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What are tipping points you might ask? These are when conditions change so much that the earth systems we rely on for life simply stop functioning.
No longer able to function as expected, those systems throw in the towel. 😓
Today, according to the report, the world is moving closer to the brink of multiple tipping points. (GO FIGURE…right?) And yes, we in the Caribbean are still, and evermore so, on the frontlines. ⚠️
Actions on the ground to address the rapid changes are lagging behind. And while the world leaders and big corporations have a significant role to play (and blame to take), collectively changing our behaviour on the ground is really the best Caribbean populations can do to chart a new path forward and show our leaders we are serious about meaningful action. 🌱
So, the risky tipping points and some facts:
- Accelerating Extinction - 1 million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction, many of them within decades. 🦁🌺
- Groundwater Depletion - 2 billion people rely on groundwater as their primary source of freshwater 💧
- Mountain Glaciers melting - 1.9 billion people at risk of negative effects due to glacier retreat 🏔️
- Space Debris - 34,260 tracked objects in orbit 🚀
- Unbearable Heat - 500,000 excess death annually attributed to heat from 2000 - 2019 ☀️
- Uninsurable Future - $313 billion global economic losses from disasters in 2022 💸
Sigh. I know. In the words of the great Robert Nesta, “So much trouble in the world.” 🎶🇯🇲
It may seem like a gargantuan task to even start looking for solutions but the report calls for unprecedented integration across sectors to find and effectively execute solutions we need. And yes, promising solutions already exist in all the categories.
Overcoming the implementation barriers to achieve the best possible outcome has not been so forthcoming.
We are at a crossroads. The Caribbean region lives on that intersection. 🌎
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