Nature in the balance: Earth system tipping points and their implications for conservation

Tipping points represent critical thresholds beyond which an ecosystem changes irreversibly, causing a cascade of potentially catastrophic effects on the environment.

There is, however, cause for hope and optimism. A recent initiative led by the University of Exeter identified Positive Tipping Points in a range of areas from agriculture and ecosystem regeneration. The more we understand these areas and their significance for biodiversity and human wellbeing, the greater the opportunity to effect positive change and to enforce the essential mitigation actions necessary to prevent or minimise their impacts.

Find out more about tipping points

This event will discuss the tipping points revision and highlight the importance of considering a wide range of co-occurring and often interacting stressors including habitat alteration, pollution, disease, invasive species and more. ZSL scientists and conservationists along with international collaborators have an ongoing focus on the impact of tipping points on coral reef ecosystems and the impact they experience from climate change. In this event, speakers will highlight the importance and sensitivity of cryosphere and ocean systems and will use warm water coral reefs as an ecosystem case study.  Speakers will also touch upon the importance of real world greenhouse gas emission levels and trajectories, together with mitigation policy, for the best chance of avoiding untenable tipping (and non-tipping) point impacts. 
 

Speakers

• Dr Paul Pearce-Kelly, Senior Curator, Invertebrates and Fish, ZSL
• Dr Chris Yesson, Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL
• Rachel Jones, Marine Science Programme Manager, ZSL
• Professor Sir David King, University of Cambridge

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