U.A.V. symposium: 'Tipping Points in a Climate Perspective'

The symposium Tipping Points in a Climate Perspective will explore one of the most urgent themes in climate and Earth system science.

Tipping points are widely discussed in sustainability research, but they are not new. Throughout Earth’s geological history, abrupt shifts in climate systems have reshaped the planet. Today, similar risks are emerging again, but this time driven by human influence. The symposium brings together six speakers, each examining a different climate system vulnerable to tipping behaviour: Max Rietkerk, René van Westen, Sacha Sinet, Arie Staal, Moritz Langer, and Roderik van de Wal. 

Topics include the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its interaction with polar ice sheets, the critical role of the Amazon rainforest, and the destabilisation of permafrost regions. Sea-level rise and its societal consequences will also be addressed, an especially pressing issue for the Netherlands.

The event concludes with a panel discussion featuring all speakers, where questions from both the chair and the audience will be debated. This final session aims to connect scientific insights, uncertainties, and real-world implications.