Climate Change: What A “Hothouse” Earth Would Really Look Like
7 August 2018, 15:45 | Updated: 7 August 2018, 17:50
The planet is just decades away from a climate change tipping point which threatens the future of humanity, a scientist has told LBC.
Dr Johan Rockstrom is one of a number of researchers who are warning the Earth’s global temperature is just 1C away from triggering irreversible global warming.
If that’s reached, Dr Rockstrom say it would send the planet on the path to a “Hothouse Earth” - and it’s not for the faint hearted.
The Earth’s climate would eventually settle at a global average of 4C-5C above pre-industrial levels.
“This would be a planet that is not recognisable for us… as we know it,” he told Shelagh Fogarty.
“It would be a planet where large parts of the Arab regions would be inhabitable.
“Fresh water flows would be very scarce for large parts of the world.
“There would be difficulties to produce and deliver food as we know it today and we’d have a very shaky, turbulent planet.”
Dr Rockstrom added that the floods, forest fires and droughts the world sees today would be “small” compared to what would hit us then.
Read more: Earth is '1C away from Hothouse State that threatens the future of humanity'
