‘Tipping points’ confuse and can distract from urgent climate action

Robert E. Kopp; Elisabeth A. Gilmore; Rachael L. Shwom; Helen Adams; Carolina Adler; Michael Oppenheimer; Anand Patwardhan; Chris Russill; Daniela N. Schmidt; Richard York

doi:10.1038/s41558-024-02196-8

‘Tipping points’ confuse and can distract from urgent climate action

Robert E. Kopp^*, Elisabeth A. Gilmore^*, Rachael L. Shwom, Helen Adams, Carolina Adler, Michael Oppenheimer, Anand Patwardhan, Chris Russill, Daniela N. Schmidt, Richard York

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tipping points have gained substantial traction in climate change discourses. Here we critique the ‘tipping point’ framing for oversimplifying the diverse dynamics of complex natural and human systems and for conveying urgency without fostering a meaningful basis for climate action. Multiple social scientific frameworks suggest that the deep uncertainty and perceived abstractness of climate tipping points render them ineffective for triggering action and setting governance goals. The framing also promotes confusion between temperature-based policy benchmarks and properties of the climate system. In both natural and human systems, we advocate for clearer, more specific language to describe the phenomena labelled as tipping points and for critical evaluation of whether, how and why different framings can support scientific understanding and climate risk management.

Original language	English
Journal	Nature climate change
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02196-8
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2024

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10.1038/s41558-024-02196-8

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abstract = "Tipping points have gained substantial traction in climate change discourses. Here we critique the {\textquoteleft}tipping point{\textquoteright} framing for oversimplifying the diverse dynamics of complex natural and human systems and for conveying urgency without fostering a meaningful basis for climate action. Multiple social scientific frameworks suggest that the deep uncertainty and perceived abstractness of climate tipping points render them ineffective for triggering action and setting governance goals. The framing also promotes confusion between temperature-based policy benchmarks and properties of the climate system. In both natural and human systems, we advocate for clearer, more specific language to describe the phenomena labelled as tipping points and for critical evaluation of whether, how and why different framings can support scientific understanding and climate risk management.",

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AU - Kopp, Robert E.

AU - Gilmore, Elisabeth A.

AU - Shwom, Rachael L.

AU - Adams, Helen

AU - Adler, Carolina

AU - Oppenheimer, Michael

AU - Patwardhan, Anand

AU - Russill, Chris

AU - Schmidt, Daniela N.

AU - York, Richard

PY - 2024

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AB - Tipping points have gained substantial traction in climate change discourses. Here we critique the ‘tipping point’ framing for oversimplifying the diverse dynamics of complex natural and human systems and for conveying urgency without fostering a meaningful basis for climate action. Multiple social scientific frameworks suggest that the deep uncertainty and perceived abstractness of climate tipping points render them ineffective for triggering action and setting governance goals. The framing also promotes confusion between temperature-based policy benchmarks and properties of the climate system. In both natural and human systems, we advocate for clearer, more specific language to describe the phenomena labelled as tipping points and for critical evaluation of whether, how and why different framings can support scientific understanding and climate risk management.

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JO - Nature climate change

JF - Nature climate change

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‘Tipping points’ confuse and can distract from urgent climate action

Abstract

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