A group of seven researchers published a commentary in the journal Nature, warning of irreversible changes to the Earth's environmental systems and urging urgent action to prevent a global tipping point. They emphasized the need to address climate change ahead of the COP25 summit in Madrid, stating that the planet is in a 'state of planetary emergency' and could face 'hothouse' conditions if drastic measures are not taken soon. The scientists highlighted the loss of the Amazon rainforest, melting ice sheets, and thawing permafrost as key indicators of the urgent need for action. They emphasized that the time to prevent tipping may have already shrunk to zero, while achieving net zero emissions would require at least 30 years. A boat and a bicycle are visible on the dried Lake Poopo in the Oruro Department of Bolivia on December 16, 2017, in a file photo showcasing the effects of climate change. According to Timothy Lenton, a professor of climate change and Earth system science at the University of Exeter, tipping points are already occurring in nine key areas, including the destruction of the Amazon, reduction of Arctic sea ice, coral reef die-offs, melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica, permafrost thawing, destabilization of boreal forests, and a slowdown of ocean circulation. Lenton argues that these events are interconnected and that a change in one will impact another, leading to a worsening 'cascade' of crises. According to a recent study, regional warming is causing increased thawing of Arctic permafrost, releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. This warming has also led to insect disturbances and fires in North American boreal forests, potentially changing some areas from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Researchers have found that the climate is more sensitive than previously believed, with the possibility of a global tipping point. Last year's research examined various regime shifts, such as the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet and the transition from rainforest to Savanna. The concept of reaching tipping points in one system leading to an increased risk of surpassing them in other systems was illustrated. A photo of an offering to Mother Water on a dried lake affected by climate change in Bolivia was provided. According to the Climate News Network, the idea of climate tipping points was introduced by the IPCC 20 years ago, suggesting that significant disruptions would only occur with a global warming of over 5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Climate scientists have indicated that data from the two most recent IPCC reports, published in 2018 and September 2019, indicate that tipping points may occur with as little as 1 to 2 degrees Celsius of warming. The current global average temperature is approximately 1 degree Celsius higher than it was in the pre-industrial era, and it is still increasing.