Focus Topic: Earth System Tipping Points
Over the coming months, PLOS Climate will be calling for submissions on a series of Focus Topics, identified by our editors as being of special significance in supporting evidence-based climate action. Peer-reviewed articles that align with these Focus Topics will be highlighted to our broad and interdisciplinary readership through blog posts and our social media channels.
Introduction
This week, South American leaders and representatives of Indigenous communities met in the Brazilian city of Belém to formulate a joint declaration on their ambition for the protection of the Amazon Forest from the host of threats ranged against it. One of the key motivations behind this effort was the significance of the Amazon as a major biophysical component in the earth system, and the warnings that scientists have issued about the crossing of tipping points that could mean that the forest has already moved from being a sink to a net source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, recently published research has sparked renewed focus on the timescale of tipping points in North Atlantic ocean circulation, and thresholds for polar ice collapse are the subject of intense investigation and frequent discussion. There is broad scientific consensus that the current pace of anthropogenic climate change puts us on course to pass a number of key tipping points in the earth system, leading to consequences that will be irreversible for centuries or millennia.
Call for Submissions
However, there are many unexplored questions about the exact nature of many of these tipping points, how the likelihood and timing of passing them could relate to different mitigation scenarios, and what the ramifications might be. In recognition of the urgency of developing a robust and accessible peer-reviewed evidence base that addresses these questions, PLOS Climate is launching a Focus Topic dedicated to Earth System Tipping Points. We encourage submissions of research that shines light on physical, ecological, sociological and policy dimensions of tipping points in all parts of the earth system.
Submission Process
Ready to submit your work for this PLOS Climate Focus Topic? Here’s our step-by-step guide to the submission process.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
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Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content:
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
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Indicators mentioned or implied in the article:
- Indicator for SDG 13.2: Number of countries with integrated policies, strategies, and plans for climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
- Indicator for SDG 15.1: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Number of countries with integrated policies, strategies, and plans for climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type. |
The article addresses the issues related to climate change and the protection of natural ecosystems, which are connected to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under these SDGs can be identified:
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- SDG 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
The article mentions or implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets:
- Indicator for SDG 13.2: Number of countries with integrated policies, strategies, and plans for climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
- Indicator for SDG 15.1: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: latitude.plos.org
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