Global average temperatures of 1.5C are supposed to be the upper limit beyond which the climate enters a dangerous new phase which risks catastrophic outcomes. But new scientific evidence has just been announced showing that this ‘safe limit’ is too high, and that we have already moved into that dangerous new phase.

The disappearance of Arctic summer sea ice is now inevitable. We've crossed a dangerous tipping point and are at risk of triggering others.

Highlights

• The study finds the disappearance of Arctic sea ice is now inevitable, and will happen even with a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions.

• warming rates similar to or higher than modern trends have only occurred during past abrupt glacial episodes. We argue that the Arctic is currently experiencing an abrupt climate change event, and that climate models underestimate this ongoing warming

• Many scientists acknowledge that prevailing climate models, far from being too alarmist, consistently underestimate the pace and scale of climate change.

• The Arctic tipping point is itself a major forcing that increases the chances that these ecosystems are pushed past their own tipping points.

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