A new report published in the journal ‘Bioscience’ warns that the Earth has entered a “critical and unpredictable” phase of the climate crisis, with 25 out of 35 key planetary indicators reaching extreme levels. The report, “The 2024 State of the Climate: Perilous Times on Planet Earth”, highlights alarming trends in human population growth, livestock numbers, fossil fuel consumption, and environmental degradation.
The paper notes that the global human population is increasing by approximately 200,000 people per day, while ruminant livestock populations grow by around 170,000 daily. These surging numbers, alongside increased per capita meat production and rising gross domestic product (GDP), have contributed to heightened coal and oil consumption, which grew by 1.5% in 2023.
Although renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expanding, their combined energy output remains 14 times lower than that of fossil fuels. Forests are also facing severe losses, with global tree cover reduction climbing from 22.8 million hectares (Mha) in 2022 to 28.3 Mha in 2023—the third-highest rate ever recorded. Wildfires alone caused a record loss of 11.9 Mha of forest cover.
The study further details record levels of greenhouse gases, with carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations critically high. China, the United States, and India are identified as the largest greenhouse gas emitters, while the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Australia top the list of per capita emissions.
Global surface temperatures have hit unprecedented highs, with scientists predicting that 2024 may rank as one of the hottest years on record. Ocean heat content and acidity have also reached new extremes, triggering mass marine life die-offs, particularly during heatwaves in 2021 and 2023. Ice mass in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as global glacier thickness, have dropped to record lows.
The report also draws attention to the changing water systems in the Arctic, where streams have turned orange due to elevated iron and toxic metal levels caused by permafrost thaw. This has resulted in declining biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems and reductions in fish populations, impacting rural communities in Alaska.
The researchers expressed deep concern about the state of the planet’s ecosystems. “A large portion of the very fabric of life on our planet is imperilled,” said William Ripple, a distinguished professor at Oregon State University and one of the report’s authors.
The report also notes increased interest in solar radiation modification (SRM), a form of geoengineering that aims to reflect sunlight away from the Earth to mitigate climate change. Critics argue that SRM could disrupt weather patterns and undermine emissions reduction efforts. The authors stress the importance of further research to evaluate its environmental, social, and geopolitical risks, along with its potential effectiveness.
