Study Warns Of Risk To Humans' Ability To Cope With Disaster

Humanity is moving dangerously close to irreversible tipping points that would drastically damage our ability to cope with disasters, UN researchers have warned, including the withdrawal of home insurance from flood-hit areas and the drying up of the groundwater that is vital for ensuring food supplies.

- Damian Carrington

These "risk tipping points" also include the loss of the mountain glaciers that are essential for water supplies in many parts of the world and accumulating space debris knocking out weather satellites.

A report from the UN University (UNU) in Germany has set out a series of risk tipping points that are approaching, but said having foresight of these meant that it remained possible to take action to prevent them. Tipping points are triggered by small increases in their driving force but rapidly lead to large impacts.