The 2024 State of the Climate report has issued a stark warning about the growing severity of the climate crisis, with scientists stating that many of Earth’s “vital signs” have hit record extremes. Senior climate experts say “the future of humanity hangs in the balance” as rising greenhouse gas emissions, population growth, and record-breaking temperatures push the planet into a critical new phase.
The latest State of the Climate report, published in BioScience, paints an alarming picture of the planet’s current environmental trajectory. According to the report, “we are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster,” as described by lead authors William J. Ripple and Christopher Wolf. This global emergency is “beyond any doubt,” with human activities continuing to drive catastrophic changes in key planetary systems.
Many of Earth’s “vital signs” have reached record extremes, indicating a “critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis,” the report states. Of the 35 vital signs assessed in 2023, 25 have deteriorated to unprecedented levels, including carbon dioxide concentrations and human population growth. The human population is increasing by approximately 200,000 people per day, and livestock populations, such as cattle and sheep, are growing by 170,000 per day—both of which contribute to the record levels of greenhouse gas emissions fuelling climate change.
The report further highlights that Earth’s surface and ocean temperatures have hit an all-time high, driven by the relentless burning of fossil fuels. According to the authors, “the three hottest days ever occurred in July 2024,” with ongoing emissions likely to push temperature records even higher in the years to come. Global sea surface temperatures were far above their historical averages in 2023, particularly in the North Atlantic, a trend expected to continue.
The growing concern among scientists is not limited to environmental degradation alone. The report reveals that an increasing number of experts are now investigating the possibility of societal collapse as a consequence of the climate crisis. With natural systems faltering and humanity’s collective actions exacerbating the situation, “the future of humanity hangs in the balance,” warn the authors. Without swift and decisive action to reduce emissions and curb global warming, the risks to global stability will only worsen.
Despite repeated warnings, the world continues to move in the wrong direction, with fossil fuel emissions hitting an all-time high in 2023. The report stresses the need for immediate action to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources. However, as the authors conclude, “we are currently failing to avoid serious impacts” and can only hope to limit the extent of the damage as we enter this perilous new phase of the climate crisis.
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