The AMOC, which controls the distribution of heat in the Atlantic Ocean, may be on the verge of collapse, the report says, leading to significant cooling of northern Europe, warming of the Southern Hemisphere and extreme rainfall events.
In addition, the Greenland ice sheet is losing 30 million tons of ice per hour, and the melting of the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the “Doomsday Glacier,” seems unstoppable.
According to the researchers’ estimates two-thirds of the world’s glaciers may melt by 2050if the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions continues. This is already a risk to millions of people due to flooding from glacial lake outbursts,
while the sea level may rise by up to 3 meters by the end of the century.
The report highlights that global warming is already exceeding the goals of the Paris Agreement: with current measures, the temperature rise could be around 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit), well above the 1.5 degree target.
This could result in further acceleration of ice losses and climate tipping points.
The timing of the report coincides with the COP29 climate conference being held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. As new global carbon trading rules emerge, world leaders agree that current climate policies are insufficient to address the crisis.
According to the researchers, time is running out and immediate action is needed. “The problems known so far have been confirmed, but the situation is more serious than previously thought,” warned Helen Findlay, one of the authors of the report.
The cover image is an illustration. Cover image source: Portfolio
Source: www.portfolio.hu
