Tipping Points: Climate Change and Society
Discover how rapid changes to natural systems may make Earth look very different in the future.
Who is the course for?
This course is for people with a basic knowledge of climate change science (to get an introduction join the course Climate Change: The Science).
What topics will you cover?
Tipping Points in the Natural World
What are ‘tipping points’?
Recognising early warning signals for major tipping points
Tipping points in the climate system – Arctic, Amazon and Circulation systems
Tipping Points in the Human World
Tipping Points and policy
Links between tipping points and social systems – Syrian droughts and conflict
Positive tipping points – influencing behavioural change and collective action
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…
Explain what a tipping point is
Explore the potential for tipping points to drastically change the climate system
Apply your knowledge of tipping points to the Arctic, Amazon and circulation systems
Investigate how tipping points might affect your life
Debate the relevance of using ‘tipping points’ to shape policy
Discuss the concept of tipping points in relation to social systems
