Why in news?
The Future of Earth, 2020,’ which was released here on Thursday by the South Asia Future Earth Regional Office, DIVECHA Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science lists
- Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Extreme weather events
- Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
- Food crises
- Water crises
as the five global risks that can potentially impact the planet.
Offering examples of how the interrelation of risk factors play a role, scientists say extreme heat waves can accelerate global warming by releasing large amounts of stored carbon from affected ecosystems, and at the same time intensify water crises and/ or food scarcity.
The loss of biodiversity also weakens the capacity of natural and agricultural systems to cope with climate extremes
