It has been a difficult year. Just when we thought we were past the worst with Covid, we get the war in Ukraine with devastating impacts on the supply of fuel, grain and other food goods.
Climate change does not let up. Last year looks to be the warmest on record for the UK and in July the record for highest temperature in the UK was topped by an alarming 1.6°C [1]. We also had drought with river flows at record lows [2]. Worldwide, 2022 saw catastrophic floods in Pakistan [3], record forest fires across Europe [4], and extraordinarily sudden cold across large parts of North America (a drop of 23°C in one hour in Cheyenne, Wyoming) [5].
It reminds us of the danger of climate tipping points. Tipping points are moments when some part of the climate system changes in such a massive way that there’s no going back. Apparently there are several that may have already happened: melting ice sheets, the death of coral reefs, melting permafrost releasing methane and the loss of sea ice in the Barents Sea [6].
These tipping points are dangerous. However, tipping points can trigger changes for the good too. The war in Ukraine has shown how easy it is to weaponise supply of fossil fuels [7], triggering a rapid increase in investment in renewable energy worldwide. For the same reason we have seen much more action on energy efficiency, here and across Europe [8]. People are turning down thermostats and putting on more clothes to reduce bills [9]. (See also TC members tips). Solar PV installers are struggling to keep up with a spike in orders [10], and demand for heat pumps, which use electricity to heat buildings instead of gas, has also surged [11].
When we are close to a tipping point, little nudges can produce large changes in the way we think, feel and do things.
