Earth Headed For Environmental 'Tipping Point'

"The planet is in danger of crossing a "tipping point" of irreversible damage to its atmosphere, climate, water and ecosystems unless governments can develop comprehensive strategies to promote growth and sustainability, warns a new report released on Thursday by an environmental advocacy branch of the United Nations.

'Biophysical and social systems can reach tipping points, beyond which there are abrupt, accelerating, or potentially irreversible changes,' said the 540-page Global Environment Outlook, produced by authors from around the world for the UN Environment Program.

It also noted some environmental trends could slow down or reverse because of anticipated changes in demographics, material consumption or technological breakthroughs, but not necessarily before crossing a dangerous threshold as a result of human activities in an "'increasingly globalized, industrialized and interconnected world.'"

Thanks to Patrick Condon