10 New Insights in Climate Science 2024: Heat surges risk ecosystem collapse

The report finds that surging global temperatures are making the planet increasingly uninhabitable: They are disrupting the oceans’ vital planetary processes, pushing the Amazon rainforest to the brink of large-scale collapse and threatening an unborn generation by heightening chances of pregnancy complications and even loss. Key climate insights include threats that could reverse decades of progress in maternal and reproductive health, increase the severity and cost of El Niño events, and endanger one of our most crucial natural carbon sinks.

“This report confirms that the world faces planetary scale challenges, from the rise of methane emissions to the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. It shows that rising heat, ocean instability and a tipping of the Amazon Rainforest could push parts of our planet beyond habitable limits. Yet, it also provides clear pathways and solutions, demonstrating that with urgent, decisive action, we still can avoid unmanageable outcomes,” emphasizes PIK director Johan Rockström, co-chair of The Earth League.

‘10 New Insights in Climate Science’ span a vast range of climate research. The report is designed to equip policymakers with the latest and most pivotal climate research published over the past 18 months. The latest climate science provides insights that can inform negotiations at the UN annual conference on climate change COP29 and policy through 2025 and beyond. The report urges policymakers at COP29 to use these insights during negotiations, including on climate finance.

 Top 10 insights:

1. Tackling rising methane levels
   
   
2. The climate implications of reduced air pollution
   
   
3. Increasing heat is making more of the planet uninhabitable
   
   
4. Climate extremes are harming maternal and reproductive well-being

5. The devastating global impacts of ocean changes
   
   
6. Biocultural diversity can bolster the Amazon’s resilience against climate change
   
   
7. The vulnerability of critical infrastructure
   
   
8. The challenges for climate-resilient development in cities
   
   
9. Governance gap and competition for energy transition minerals
   
   
10. Fairness, acceptance and resistance of climate policies

 
The ‘10 New Insights in Climate Science’ series, launched with the UNFCCC at the COPs since 2017, is a collaborative initiative of Future Earth, the Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme, synthesising the key recent developments in climate change research. This year’s report represents the collective efforts of more than 80 leading researchers from 45 countries.