6 catastrophic threats facing the planet, including climate change and space debris

Weather of Arabia - A new report issued by the United Nations on Wednesday warned of the presence of six threats that could lead to radical transformations in the basic systems of human life.

Scientists constantly refer to the concept of climate tipping points, examples of which include the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet or the decline in the level of the Amazon rainforest .

6 catastrophic threats facing the planet

In this new report, it is proposed to create a new category called “risk tipping points”, which would highlight the complex interactions between nature and human-built systems. This includes areas such as the water supply system and food supply.

Regarding the report, Zita Sepesvári, lead editor of the report, stated that due to increasing damage to the environment, degradation of biodiversity, and pollution affecting Earth and space, we are dangerously heading towards threshold tipping points in risks, and these points may be able to destroy the systems we depend on to ensure the sustainability of the report. Our life.

Glacier collapse

The report's warning also extends to those threats that may not receive a sufficient share of attention in the usual discussions about climate change. While we know well about impacts such as the collapse of glaciers that pose a threat to water supplies and the extinction of organisms that play key roles in the environment, this analysis brings to our attention those risks that deserve more attention and research.

Space debris

The first threat is the accumulation of space debris, which poses a danger to satellites in Earth's orbit. If this buildup is not addressed, it could lead to cascading collisions in space, compromising satellites and rendering them unusable, and this could affect the ability to carry out tasks such as weather disaster forecasting and space communication.

Insurance system

There is another threat to the insurance system, as its exposure to risk increases as a result of the increasing frequency of disasters. This is reflected in the rise in the prices of insurance contracts, making it difficult for individuals to afford insurance costs. In some cases, some insurance companies withdraw their services from certain areas, leaving the population without insurance protection and without a safety net.

Groundwater depletion

Another danger relates to the increasing depletion of groundwater, which is mainly used for agriculture and to save during dry periods. This intensive use of groundwater may lead to depletion of freshwater sources, making agriculture and food supplies difficult, especially during periods of drought.

Crisis response

In this context, a new approach to analyzing possible responses to these crises is also proposed in the report. These responses can be classified into two categories: solutions that aim to avoid the causes of the problem and prevent it from occurring, and solutions that aim to adapt to inevitable changes and counter their effects.

Facing high temperatures

These solutions can also integrate with the existing system or aim to change it. For example, in the face of rising temperatures, installing air conditioners is an adaptation solution within the existing system, while efforts to reduce gas emissions aim to transform the system itself and focus on addressing the root of the problem.

The report notes that the solutions currently being implemented mainly seek to postpone potential tipping points, rather than fundamentally redesign and improve operating systems.

Source: Sky News