Monday, 28 November 2016

Thresholds and Tipping Points

From the Paris climate agreement coming into force to the election of Trump, this month has seen both significant steps forward and substantial setbacks for global cooperation on tackling climate change. In light of these events, a 5-year comprehensive study on Arctic ecosystems and societies published on Friday, suggesting that we may be headed for uncontrollable changes, has reinforced the necessity for global action.  As already highlighted throughout this blog, significant changes are taking place in the Arctic and there is a clear interconnectedness within and between Arctic biophysical systems, as well as the rest of the world. The Arctic Resilience Report outlines 19 potentially irrevocable tipping points that may already have been passed or will be exceeded soon. 

What is society's capacity to adapt and transform to Arctic climate change?

A 'social-ecological systems' framework was applied, recognising that human and natural systems are closely intertwined and local interactions are embedded within wider regional and global dynamics. Although individual drivers may be predictable, the triggering of multiple, interacting drivers and feedback loops make the eventual outcome difficult to predict. Thus, in an uncertain future understanding thresholds and society resilience is fundamental.

Social-ecological systems interactions across numerous spatial scales (Arctic Council, 2016)

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