Amazon at Risk: Humanity’s Window to Prevent Catastrophic Tipping Point Is Closing Fast!

Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” the Amazon rainforest exhibited increased signs this year of nearing a dreaded ecological threshold, posing a serious threat to its survival.

In 2024, the Amazon was severely affected by rampant wildfires and an unprecedented drought. These environmental crises were exacerbated by ongoing deforestation and the El Niño phenomenon, with climate change further intensifying these conditions. The World Economic Forum highlighted in an October report that, “This September, the region saw the highest number of fires in 14 years.”

The drought conditions have also taken a toll on the Amazon River, causing water levels in one of its principal tributaries to reach record lows, as reported by The Associated Press in October. This reduction in water levels has adversely affected local economies and disrupted food supplies.

Andrew Miller, the advocacy director at Amazon Watch, expressed to the AP that the fires and drought events of 2024 “could be stark signs that we are approaching the much-dreaded ecological tipping point.”

“The chance for humanity to change this course is narrowing, yet it remains,” he remarked.

The Amazon is crucial for global ecological health, storing between 150-200 billion tons of carbon and accounting for 20% of the freshwater that flows into the world’s oceans.

The World Economic Forum warns that reaching the tipping point in the Amazon would trigger the release of billions of tons of CO2 due to fires and dying vegetation. Such an event would severely worsen climate change, making it extremely difficult to keep global warming within 1.5°C. Additionally, it would disrupt global weather patterns and potentially diminish agricultural yields and food security worldwide.

A study published in the journal Nature in February suggests that anywhere from 10% to nearly half of the rainforest could be at a tipping point by 2050. The authors of the study noted, “We estimate that by 2050, 10% to 47% of Amazonian forests will face multiple disturbances that could lead to unforeseen ecological shifts and could intensify regional climate impacts.”

Nevertheless, 2024 brought some positive developments for the Amazon. According to the AP, deforestation in Brazil and Colombia saw a downturn this year. In Brazil, home to the majority of the Amazon, there was a 30.6% reduction in forest loss compared to the previous year, marking the lowest level of deforestation in almost ten years.

This represents a significant shift from just a few years ago under the administration of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, which saw a 15-year high in deforestation rates. Now, under left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil has seen a decline in deforestation rates, although Lula has faced criticism from environmentalists, as noted by the AP, for supporting projects that could potentially damage the environment.