The resilience of Earth’s systems can be described using planetary boundaries and tipping points. Planetary boundaries mark areas within which Earth’s systems can function safely. Outside these areas, the risk of serious disruptions increases. Tipping points, on the other hand, are thresholds beyond which changes become irreversible and the system tips into a new state.

TIPPING POINTS IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM

So far, Earth’s natural systems have mitigated global warming reasonably well. However, if warming continues, some elements will cross a tipping point, triggering irreversible and self-reinforcing changes in the climate system. Moreover, crossing a tipping point in one area can also cause changes and the crossing of tipping points in other areas. The result is a domino-like chain reaction – a self-perpetuating and accelerating process with serious, unpredictable consequences for humans and nature.

TIPPING POINTS IN SOCIETY

Tipping points can also lead to positive change – like when people, cities and companies set a good example and trigger a chain reaction that motivates others to change their behaviour. In most cases, around 25% of the population sharing the demands and ideals of a movement is enough to tip the system towards change.

We can use these tipping dynamics to take even more active measures against the climate crisis. To achieve this, people must be able to trust that their actions will have positive consequences.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISINFORMATION

The deliberate spread of false information about climate change or the effectiveness of climate protection measures can significantly slow down climate protection efforts. It creates uncertainty, weakens trust in science and politics, and can divide societies. Yet the scientific consensus is clear: climate change is human-made and decisive action is needed before critical tipping points are crossed. A lack of political clarity also makes planning difficult for businesses and industry. And the longer effective measures are delayed, the less time there is to adapt to the consequences of climate change.

SOCIAL TIPPING POINT DYNAMICS FOR CLIMATE STABILISATION BY 2050

Researchers propose targeted measures to trigger a positive social chain reaction. The aim is to enable rapid and global change towards a climate-friendly society. These social tipping points affect various areas and include:

• abolishing subsidies for fossil fuels and creating incentives for decentralised (local) energy production (e.g., solar panels on houses);
• developing of CO₂-neutral cities (net zero);
• divesting assets linked to fossil fuels;
• making visible what fossil fuels reveal about our responsibilities and values (what is desired and rewarded in our society);
• strengthening climate education and engagement;
• disclosing information about greenhouse gas emissions (companies, organisations and countries make public, for example, the amount of greenhouse gases they emit into the atmosphere, their sources and countermeasures).

adapted from: Otto I.M. et al., 2020, PNAS

SOCIAL TIPPING POINTS

The increase in extreme temperatures, droughts and floods has raised awareness of the climate crisis. This was evident, for example, in the emergence of the climate strike movement. People are now more willing to take active steps to protect the climate. This can be observed in referendums and personal consumption behaviour, among other things. At the same time, there is greater acceptance of technical, economic and political measures that enable social change.

POLITICAL TIPPING POINTS

Growing social pressure and clear scientific demands are increasingly putting the climate crisis on the political agenda. One example of this is the Paris Climate Agreement, which marked a historic turning point in international climate protection. More and more countries are now setting additional targets such as net zero emissions. Others are under pressure to follow suit. It is now important that climate protection increasingly becomes a central criterion in political decision-making processes.

TECHNOLOGICAL TIPPING POINTS

Technological innovations are constantly changing the way we live, think, work, consume and move around. Targeted political measures can promote these developments and steer them in directions that benefit both people and the environment. Examples include the expansion of renewable energies, the strengthening of public transport and the electrification of the mobility sector.

ECONOMIC TIPPING POINTS

Climate change and its consequences are causing rising costs for the economy. For example: employee productivity declines during heat waves, and infrastructure is damaged or destroyed by extreme weather events such as fires or floods. Companies therefore have a growing economic interest in mitigating climate change, minimising risks and increasingly focusing on climate-friendly alternatives. In 2019, more than half of the newly built wind and solar power plants worldwide generated electricity at a lower cost than new coal-fired power plants for the first time – a significant turning point. Since then, the expansion of renewable energies has set new records every year, further strengthening their competitiveness.

EARTH’S TIPPING POINT

There is only one Earth. It can tolerate a lot of pollution and CO₂ emissions. But it can suddenly reach a tipping point at which it becomes too much and the system can no longer balance itself. Find Earth’s tipping point in this experiment!

1. Make sure that the tipping device is straight and not tilted.
2. Earth must be on the right-hand side.
3. Take the metal discs from the tray and place them in the scoop on the left-hand side of the tipping device. The discs represent greenhouse gas emissions, which throw Earth out of balance.
4. What happens to Earth when you add more and more discs, i.e. emit more and more greenhouse gases?
5. How many discs or emissions can the system tolerate before it tips?
6. How does Earth return to its starting position?

You’re in luck: in the experiment, you can return the tipping device and Earth back to their original position using the crank.

In reality, unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and once a tipping point has been crossed, there is no going back. Can you help prevent it from getting that far in the first place?

Further information about the exhibit