We're about to cross 9 critical climate tipping points

While there has been a lot of hue and cry over climate crisis, there still are people who don't believe that the change is real. But science believes so with not just one but nine evident proofs!

Researchers have warned that over half of the climate tipping points which were identified a decade ago are now "active".

These climate thresholds, such as the decline of ice sheets and loss of biodiverse habitats, could cumulatively trigger a global tipping point that would be an existential threat to civilization.

1. Arctic sea ice

2. Greenland ice sheet

3. Boreal forests

4. Permafrost

5. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

6. Amazon rainforest

7. Warm-water corals

8. West Antarctic Ice Sheet

9. Parts of East Antarctica

Exiting the fossil fuel economy is unlikely before 2050, but with temperatures already at 1.1°C above pre-industrial temperature, Earth will likely cross the 1.5°C guardrail by 2040.

Reducing emissions could slow this process, allowing more time for low-lying populations to move.

The rainforests, permafrost and boreal forests are examples of biosphere tipping points that, if crossed, result in the release of additional greenhouse gases amplifying warming.

Despite most countries having signed the Paris Agreement, pledging to keep global warming well below 2°C, current national emissions pledges -- even if they are met -- would lead to 3°C of warming.

Though global temperatures have fluctuated over millions of years, researchers said humans are now "forcing the system", with atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and global temperature increasing at rates that are an order of magnitude higher than at the end of the last ice age.