‘If we wait it will be too late’: Why 500 scientists are backing this urgent climate declaration

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🗞️ Driving the news: Over 500 scientists have signed the Dartington Declaration, urging world leaders to act urgently on climate change to avoid crossing dangerous tipping points
• The declaration calls for halving global emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050
• It emphasizes that without these drastic cuts, the planet will face irreversible damage, pushing humanity closer to a catastrophic climate future

🔭 The context: The declaration follows the alarming Global Tipping Points Report 2025, which revealed that Earth has already reached a critical tipping point with the unprecedented dieback of coral reefs
• The report highlights the urgent need for systemic changes, particularly a rapid phaseout of fossil fuels, which are the primary driver of climate change

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The declaration advocates for unprecedented emission reductions and scaling up carbon removal strategies
• Protecting and restoring natural carbon sinks, like forests and soils, is essential to mitigate climate impacts
• The deterioration of these ecosystems, particularly the Amazon, contributes significantly to carbon release, exacerbating the climate crisis

⏭️ What’s next: The focus shifts to world leaders and policymakers, who are urged to take immediate action to prevent further environmental degradation
• Scaling up renewable energy technologies and transitioning to low-carbon economies is crucial to staying within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target

💬 One quote: “If we wait, it will be too late. The planet’s future hangs in the balance. Which way it tips is down to our actions now and in the years to come.” — The Dartington Declaration

📈 One stat: Fossil fuels account for 68% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions

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