Johan Rockström warns of accelerating global warming and ecosystem tipping points

Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, has warned that global warming driven by fossil fuel emissions is accelerating. This trend is pushing critical ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs, toward irreversible damage.

Rockström noted that parts of the Atlantic Ocean circulation system, which regulates Western Europe’s climate via warm water from the Caribbean, are nearing collapse. Scientific data indicates the world is on track to exceed a 1.5 degree Celsius rise in average surface temperatures within the next few years, which will increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

Addressing corporate resilience, Rockström advised companies to treat climate and nature as a single integrated agenda. He recommended prioritizing decarbonization alongside investments in biodiversity and freshwater reserves. Additionally, he criticized lobbying efforts to ease rules on internal combustion engines, noting that subsidies for petrol and diesel undermine the transition to electric vehicles.