S1E117: On the edge: Why everyone needs to talk about planetary tipping points

Tipping points are a grave threat but it’s not too late for
humanity to reduce the risks. 


Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits
Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from
biodiversity conservation to climate change.


The world is on the brink of major changes to the natural world
that could have truly devastating consequences for billions of
people. 


These are parts of the natural world that are at risk of abrupt
and irreversible changes. For instance, runaway melting of the
Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets; collapse of a key ocean
circulation in the Atlantic; melting of permafrost; dieback of
the Amazon rainforest and warm-water coral reefs. There are many
more. 


What’s causing this? Man-made global warming is a major reason.
So is pollution and over-exploitation of resources. 


Planetary tipping points represent one of the gravest threats to
humanity, yet many people seem unaware of the danger. And some of
these tipping points might be close to, or already past the point
of no return.


Yet, there’s still time to stop others from occurring if we act
fast. 


To learn more about this, we speak to Professor Tim Lenton,
Director of the Global Systems Institute at Exeter University in
Britain. Tim recently led the biggest study yet into global
tipping points. 


Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):


1:29  What are planetary tipping points and why should we be
concerned?


2:23  What are some examples and how close are we to some of
these tipping points?


4:06 And what are the major tipping point risks for Asia?


9:01 Tell us more about the danger from a cascade of tipping
points, where one major planetary change causes a domino effect
of triggering other tipping points?


14:29  The good news is that there are steps humanity can
take – positive tipping points. What are some examples?


17: 40 But humanity has already caused major changes to the
planet. Does that mean we have to adapt to a rapidly changing
world no matter what we do? 


Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and
Amirul Karim


Edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us:


Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf


Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY


Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag


Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6


Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu


---


Discover more ST podcast channels:


COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE


In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt


Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7


Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN


Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf


Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m


ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE


#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad


Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX


Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts


---


Special edition series:


True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T


The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps):
https://str.sg/wuZ2


Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn


Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB


Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa


---


Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!


#greenpulse


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.