max388•8d ago

Heard a climate scientist on the radio say we've passed 3 of 5 'tipping points' already

I was driving back from dropping my kid off at school and caught this interview on NPR where this guy from the Potsdam Institute listed off ice sheets, permafrost, and coral reefs as already past the point of no return. He said the Amazon is close too and that's like a giant carbon sink just flipping into a source. Has anyone else heard different numbers or is this basically the standard view now for the next decade?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlie_stone728d ago

Have you looked into the permafrost thing more? That's what really got me worried after hearing similar reports. I planted a small vegetable garden last year and started composting, just trying to do SOMETHING tangible, and it actually helped my anxiety about all this. Also switched to a programmable thermostat and weatherstripped my doors it cut my gas bill by like 15%. Those small steps feel pointless but honestly they add up if enough people do them.

brown.susan8d ago

Used to roll my eyes at people obsessing over thermostats and weatherstripping. Thought it was just virtue signaling. But @charlie_stone72, you kind of changed my mind with that 15% gas bill savings. That's actual money, not just a feeling. Plus the garden thing hits different when you see a plant actually come up from seed you put in the ground. Makes you feel less helpless. I started doing the same stuff and it does help the anxiety even if it's a tiny drop in the bucket. Still scared about permafrost though, that one keeps me up at night.