Exploring Tipping Points

Researchers, policy analysts, civil activists and civil society representatives gathered at a conference in Exeter, 12-14 September, to discuss the prospect of “tipping points” in a warming world.

Over three days at the University of Exeter, the conference - co-hosted by Tim Lenton, Johan Rockstrom and others - aimed to both improve “warnings of the imminent risks of catastrophic climate tipping points” and accelerate “positive tipping points” to trigger “rapid and transformative solutions” to climate change.

In the session on 'positive' (desirable) social tipping points, Kate Raworth presented the ongoing work of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, and how the DEAL Team and Community work to amplify reinforcing feedbacks of inspiration and action, in the face of resistance from inherited systems and prevailing vested interests.

Carbon Brief wrote a comprehensive summary of the plenary discussions, providing links to many of the people, papers and issues discussed.

You can also learn more and watch back some of the sessions at the Tipping Points conference website.