The End is Nearish

The End is Nearish

2026: Are We There Yet?

"In November 2025, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh restored the practice of caretaker governments. In most countries with parliamentary systems, when an election is about to take place, a caretaker government runs things until the election is over. Learn more about caretaker governments—who staffs them, what are their main responsibilities, and what are they supposed to avoid doing?—and then discuss with your team: should caretaker governments be used in more countries and for longer periods of time? Have any caretaker governments refused to leave office when their time was up?"

During a federal election period in Australia, the Prime Minister and ministers stay in their positions.
When the Governor‑General dissolves Parliament for an election, the government enters what is called the caretaker period.
The government continues to run day‑to‑day operations, but it avoids making big decisions without consulting the opposition.
The caretaker period lasts until election results are known and a new government is appointed.
If the same government is re‑elected, the Prime Minister and ministers are reappointed by the Governor‑General.
If a new party wins the election, the Governor‑General will appoint a new Prime Minister and ministers from that party.
The caretaker conventions also mean the government avoids major policy decisions, important appointments, and big contracts during the election period.
Ministers must be members of Parliament or become members soon after an election if they are to remain in their roles long‑term under constitutional rules.

"The United States has no caretaker governments (neither does Venezuela), but it does limit its presidents to two four-year terms in office. As their second term begins to run out, they inevitably find themselves losing power and influence. They are said to become “lame ducks” as the country turns its attention to younger, healthier ducks who might win the next election. Discuss with your team: to prevent lame ducks, would it be better to have no limits on how long a person can lead a country or organization? What would you advise someone wanting to hold onto power for as long as possible?"

A president in their final term is called a “lame duck,” which means they have less influence because people know they will soon leave office.
Other politicians and voters start focusing on the next election instead of supporting the current president’s new ideas.
Lawmakers may be less willing to cooperate because they want to work with future leaders instead.
Some people think removing term limits would reduce the “lame duck” problem because leaders could keep running for office and maintain power.
Without term limits, a popular leader could stay in power for many years if voters continue electing them.
However, no term limits could also allow a leader to hold too much power for too long.
Term limits help protect democracy by making sure leadership changes regularly.
If someone wants to stay in power for a long time, they must keep strong public support from voters.
They must show good leadership by solving problems and improving the country so people want to keep supporting them.

"Queen Elizabeth I’s solution was to delay naming her successor. “I know the inconstancy of the people of England,” she is said to have told the Scottish ambassador, “How they ever mislike the present government and have their eyes fixed upon the person who is next to succeed.” Discuss with your team: would it be better if no one knew who the next leader would be until after the current leader left (or died)? Can you find an example of such a system?"

Elizabeth I was the queen of England from 1558 to 1603 and she never married or had children.
Because she had no children, people constantly wondered who would become the next ruler after her.
Elizabeth delayed naming a successor because she believed that once people knew the next ruler, they might stop supporting her current government.
By keeping the successor unknown, Elizabeth tried to prevent political plots and competition for power while she was still ruling.
If no one knows the next leader, it may reduce early political conflict because there is no clear person for rivals to support.
However, not knowing the next leader can also create uncertainty and fear about who will take power later.
Uncertainty about succession can sometimes cause political struggles or instability when the leader dies or leaves office.
One example of a system where the next leader is unknown is the papal election in the Catholic Church.
When a pope dies or resigns, the next pope is chosen by cardinals during the Papal Conclave, so no one knows the successor beforehand.

“And now, the end is near,” croons Frank Sinatra. But how do we know when we’re getting to an ending—or to a point of no return?"

The line “And now, the end is near” is the opening lyric of Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way,” released in 1969.
The song was written by Paul Anka, who adapted it from the French song “Comme d’habitude” by Claude François and Jacques Revaux.
In the song, Sinatra sings about a man who reflects on his life nearing its end, reviewing the choices he made and accepting his journey.
The phrase “the end is near” literally means that something is approaching its end, whether it is life, a project, or a story.
The expression “point of no return” originally came from aviation terminology, describing the moment during a flight when a plane no longer has enough fuel to turn back to its starting point.
In daily life, this might refer to making an irreversible decision, such as submitting an important application, saying something that changes a relationship, or taking an action that cannot be undone.

"Someday there may be nobody left to lead. Consider the Doomsday Clock, which tries to measure how close we are to the end of human civilization. Discuss with your team: how accurate do you think it is, and in what ways, if any, is it a helpful tool?"

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
The clock is a symbolic way to explain global risks in a simple form.
Midnight on the clock represents global catastrophe or the possible destruction of human civilization.
Experts move the clock’s hands every year depending on how dangerous world conditions appear.
In 2015 and 2016, the clock was set to three minutes to midnight, which meant scientists believed the world was very close to serious danger.
Scientists kept the clock at three minutes in 2016 because global risks were still extremely high.
One major concern was the continuing threat of nuclear weapons and the modernization of nuclear arsenals by several countries.
Countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea were increasing their nuclear weapons programs.
The United States also planned to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade its nuclear weapons systems.
Another major reason was climate change, including the fact that 2015 was the hottest year recorded at that time.
Some positive events happened, such as the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Agreement, but scientists said these were only small improvements.

"Midnight was coming. The world was on fire and people were dying of a terrible illness. Surely, the end of the world was near—or so thought Londoners in 1666. It was also near in 1844, 1910, 1988, 2000, and 2012. Doomsday predictions come and go more frequently in the social media age, but people have been predicting (and rescheduling) the end of the world for as long as they could hold up signs on street corners. With your team, explore the following instances of imminent doom, and consider: what do they have in common? What leads people to believe them—and what makes a doomsday prediction go viral?"

In 1666 many people feared the world would end because 666 is the “number of the beast” in the Bible’s Book of Revelation.
Recent disasters like plague, war, and famine made people think the apocalypse might be near.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 strengthened these fears because it destroyed much of the city.
Religious writers published pamphlets predicting the end of the world or the return of Christ.
The Fifth Monarchy Men believed Christ would soon create a new kingdom on Earth.
Their leader Thomas Venner even supported rebellion to help bring this religious kingdom.
At the same time, scientists connected to the Royal Society of London believed knowledge and science could improve the future.
Thinkers like Robert Boyle imagined future technologies such as flying machines, underwater travel, and medicines that could extend life.

In the year 1000, some Christians believed Jesus would return and the world would end at the start of the new millennium.
In 1700, mathematician John Napier predicted the end of the world using calculations from the Book of Revelation.
In 1719, scientist Jacob Bernoulli predicted a comet would collide with Earth and destroy it.
In 1736, theologian William Whiston also predicted that a comet would hit Earth and cause the apocalypse.
The religious group Shakers predicted the end of the world in 1792 and again in 1794.
Many predictions failed, but new ones kept appearing because people often interpret disasters or unusual events as signs of the end times.

Many end-of-the-world predictions have been made, but none have happened.
Preacher Harold Camping predicted the apocalypse in 2011 using Bible calculations, but nothing happened.
Astronomer Johannes Stöffler predicted a global flood in 1524, but only light rain occurred.
An ancient Assyrian clay tablet around 2800 B.C. claimed society was corrupt and the world might soon end.
Pope Innocent III believed medieval conflicts could lead to the final battle before Christ’s return.
Artist Sandro Botticelli suggested apocalyptic fears in his painting The Mystical Nativity around 1504.
The New England Dark Day in 1780 made people believe Judgment Day had arrived.
Some feared the Large Hadron Collider could create a black hole, but scientists say the risk is extremely unlikely.

In one scene, Homer Simpson holds a sign that says “The End Is Near”, warning others about an apocalypse.
The moment is meant to be humorous because people sometimes panic and believe the world is about to end without real evidence.
The show often uses exaggeration and satire to make fun of how society reacts to fear and rumors.
Characters in the show act dramatically about disasters, which shows how people can overreact to uncertain events.
The scene reflects a common cultural idea where individuals warn others that the world is ending.
The humor shows that apocalyptic fears are often irrational or exaggerated.

The Millerites (1844):

The Millerites were a religious group in the United States in the 1800s.
The movement was led by William Miller, a preacher who studied the Bible closely.
Miller believed he could calculate when Jesus Christ would return to Earth.
He predicted that the Second Coming would happen between 1843 and 1844.
Many followers sold their property, stopped working, and prepared for the end of the world.
When the predicted date passed and nothing happened, the event became known as the Great Disappointment in 1844.
Many followers felt shocked, confused, and disappointed after the prophecy failed.
Some believers left the movement, while others changed their beliefs and continued practicing their religion.
The movement later influenced the creation of new Christian groups, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Wodziwob’s visions (1869):

Wodziwob was a Northern Paiute spiritual leader in the western United States.
In 1869 he claimed to have visions about a coming transformation of the world.
He said the dead would return to life and Native American lands would be restored.
His visions encouraged people to perform special spiritual dances.
These beliefs became an early form of the Ghost Dance movement.
Many Native Americans followed the movement because they hoped for the return of their ancestors and the end of suffering.
The predictions did not happen, but the ideas later influenced other spiritual leaders and Ghost Dance movements in the late 1800s.

Halley’s Comet Panic (1910):

Halley's Comet passed close to Earth in 1910.
Scientists discovered the comet’s tail contained a poisonous gas called cyanogen.
Newspapers spread fears that Earth passing through the tail could poison the atmosphere.
Some people bought gas masks and “anti-comet pills” to protect themselves.
Others believed the event might cause the end of the world.
When Earth passed through the comet’s tail, nothing harmful happened.

The Jupiter Effect (1974):

The Jupiter Effect was published in 1974 by John Gribbin and Stephen H. Plagemann.
The book predicted that a rare planetary alignment in 1982 would cause major disasters on Earth.
It claimed the gravity from planets like Jupiter could trigger earthquakes and other catastrophes.
Many people feared this alignment could lead to global destruction.
Scientists later explained that the planets’ gravity was far too weak to affect Earth that way.
When the alignment happened in 1982, no unusual disasters occurred.

Hon-Ming Chen (1988):

Hon-Ming Chen was a religious leader who founded the Chen Tao group in the 1980s.
He taught a mix of Christianity, UFO beliefs, and apocalyptic predictions.
Chen predicted that God would appear on Earth on March 31, 1998.
He also claimed a major disaster would destroy much of the world.
His followers moved to Garland, Texas to prepare for the event.
When the predicted date passed and nothing happened, the prophecy failed.
Many followers left the group after the prediction did not come true.

The Y2K bug (2000):

The Y2K bug was a computer problem related to how dates were stored as two digits (ex: “00” for 2000).
People feared that when the year changed from 1999 to 2000, computers would fail and cause global disruptions.
Predicted problems included failures in banking, transportation, and government systems.
Businesses and governments spent billions of dollars fixing and updating computer systems before 2000.
When January 1, 2000 arrived, most systems worked correctly and major disasters did not occur.
The Y2K bug became an example of widespread panic over a technical issue that was largely prevented by preparation.

Large Hadron Collider (2008):

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) started operating in 2008 at CERN in Switzerland.
Some people feared it could create a black hole that might destroy Earth.
Others predicted strange effects like wormholes or the end of the world.
Scientists explained that any black holes created would be tiny and harmless, disappearing instantly.
Extensive safety studies confirmed the LHC posed no global threat.
The fears became an example of public panic over misunderstood advanced science.

Mayan Apocalypse (2012):

The Maya Long Count calendar tracks long cycles called baktuns, each about 394 years.
December 21, 2012 marked the end of the 13th baktun, leading to fears the world would end.
Books, TV, and the internet popularized doomsday predictions, claiming disasters like earthquakes or collisions.
Maya inscriptions focused on rituals and history, not the apocalypse.
Scholars explained the date just started a new cycle, like a calendar resetting.

"The four horsemen of the apocalypse, fires raging across more than California: the Book of Revelation has long offered artists a rich source of imagery for the end of the world. As you explore the following works from the European Renaissance, ask yourself: how does each artist distinguish between the destinations of the saved and the doomed—and is their tone one of terror or acceptance?"

The exhibition “Apocalypse: Yesterday and Tomorrow” was shown at the BnF’s François‑Mitterrand site in Paris in 2025.
It displays nearly 300 works (manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, photos, installations, etc.) exploring apocalyptic themes from the Middle Ages to today.
Many pieces are based on the Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse, a biblical text about the end times.
The show includes Medieval illuminated manuscripts depict scenes like battles with dragons and the fall of Babylon.
Artists such as Albrecht Dürer, William Blake, Odilon Redon, and Wassily Kandinsky reinterpret these apocalyptic themes in different artistic styles.
The exhibition shows how artists used apocalyptic imagery to explore themes like the battle between good and evil.
It also includes modern and contemporary works that reflect broader fears like disaster and climate anxiety

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht Dürer (1498):

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) was a German artist and printmaker from Nuremberg.
Dürer studied perspective and proportions from Italian artists, but added Northern European style.
He loved mathematics, anatomy, and nature, which he used to make his figures more accurate and lifelike.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a woodcut print illustrating a scene from the Book of Revelation.
The four horsemen represent Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, each with distinctive weapons and poses.
Dürer uses diagonal lines and overlapping figures to create a sense of movement.
The black-and-white woodcut technique uses strong contrast to make figures stand out sharply.
The composition is densely packed which heightens the feeling of disaster and doom.

The Mystical Nativity by Sandro Botticelli (1500):

Botticelli was an Italian Renaissance artist from Florence.
The painting shows the birth of Jesus but also includes symbolism from the Book of Revelation.
Angels celebrate in the sky while humans and angels embrace on Earth.
This represents peace after evil is defeated.
Small devils hide or run away underground, representing evil being driven away at the end of times.
Botticelli uses bright colors, flowing lines, and symbolic figures rather than a realistic perspective.
The painting reflects religious fears and hopes during a time of trouble in Florence.
It shows an apocalyptic Nativity scene, showing the birth of Christ and the promise of salvation.

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo (1536–1541):

Michelangelo was an Italian artist, sculptor, painter, and architect of the High Renaissance.
He studied human anatomy carefully, which helped him paint and sculpt very realistic bodies.
He believed the human body reflected divine beauty, so many of his works focus on expressive figures.

The fresco shows the final judgment of souls, based on Christian teachings.
Christ is in the center as a powerful judge, raising his arm to separate the saved from the damned.
The saved rise upward toward heaven, while the damned are dragged down to hell by demons.
The scene is crowded and full of movement, creating drama and emotional intensity.

The Triumph of Death by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1562):

Bruegel was a Dutch Renaissance painter known for detailed scenes of everyday life and large crowds.
The painting shows a dark apocalyptic landscape where skeleton armies destroy human society.
Death attacks people from all social classes such as kings, soldiers, peasants, and nobles.
The scene suggests that death is unavoidable and equal for everyone.
Bruegel fills the painting with many small detailed scenes, showing chaos and violence across the landscape.
The color palette is dark, brown, and smoky, creating a feeling of hopelessness.
The work reflects fears in Europe during the time of war and plague.

"Consider the more recent apocalypses depicted below. How have they changed as the world has moved toward

industrial and digital anxiety—and what specific fears are these artists inviting us to explore?"

The Course of Empire: Destruction by Thomas Cole (1836):

Cole was an American landscape painter known for dramatic nature scenes.
The painting is part of a five-painting series called The Course of Empire (life cycle of a civilization).
In Destruction, a once powerful and wealthy city is being attacked and destroyed by war.
Buildings collapse, statues fall, ships burn in the harbor, and soldiers fight in the streets.
The sky is dark and smoky, and fires spread across the city, creating a feeling of chaos.
Cole uses dramatic lighting and crowded action to show the violence of the empire’s fall.
The painting suggests that great civilizations can collapse because of power struggles and greed.
It serves as a warning that even the most advanced societies are not permanent and can eventually fall.

The Great Day of His Wrath by John Martin (1851-1853):

Martin was a British Romantic painter known for huge disaster landscapes and biblical themes.
The painting shows the Day of Judgment, when the sinful world is destroyed.
The land breaks apart with collapsing cliffs, falling mountains, and cities sliding into deep cracks in the earth.
Buildings, temples, and towers are shown breaking and falling into the valley below.
Small human figures run in panic, showing fear during the destruction.
Martin places tiny people against big landscapes to show how powerless humans are compared to nature.
He uses dark red, brown, and black colors with glowing light in the sky to create a terrifying atmosphere.
The composition shows diagonal collapsing land and falling structures, which makes the scene feel chaotic.

World War I prints by Otto Dix (1924):

Dix was a German artist who served as a soldier in World War I, which influenced his art.
The prints show the horrors of war, including destroyed landscapes, injured soldiers, and dead bodies.
Dix used harsh lines, strong contrasts, and disturbing details to show the reality of battle.
His style was influenced by Expressionism and the New Objectivity movement.
The series criticizes war by showing suffering and the psychological trauma soldiers experienced.
Dix wanted viewers to remember the brutal reality of war instead of glorifying it.

Apocalypse ‘42 by Viktor Schreckengos (1942):

Schreckengos was an American artist known for industrial design, ceramics, and wartime illustrations.
The sculpture shows many crowded figures on a horse, representing conflict during the war.
The figures and objects are packed closely together, which makes the scene feel chaotic.
The title Apocalypse suggests the idea of the world being destroyed by large-scale war.
The artwork reflects the fear during World War II that modern weapons could cause massive destruction.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Harry Louis Freund (1946):

Harry Louis Freund was an American artist known for his works that often explored struggle and conflict.
The lithograph shows four horsemen flying across the sky from right to left.
Below the horsemen is a chaotic battlefield filled with falling soldiers and people struggling in combat.
Tanks, guns, and other weapons appear on the right side, showing the modern tools of war.
At the center, a helmeted soldier stabs a man with a bayonet.
The horsemen above suggest a force bringing destruction to humans below.
The sky is empty and hot, making the horsemen appear more frightening over the battlefield.
Freund made this print soon after World War II, reflecting the fear and suffering people experienced during war.

The Last of Us: Season 1 Concept Art by Saby Menyhei (2025):

Saby Menyhei is a concept artist and art director who worked on The Last of Us.
The art was made to help design scenes for the show before it was filmed or finalized.
The images show post‑apocalyptic environments with ruined cities, reflecting a world after a deadly infection.
Some art pieces show a bombed city with destroyed buildings and broken streets.
Some pieces shows crashes in dangerous areas, labeled “Towards the Quarantine Zone.”
Aerial views show the Boston Quarantine Zone and its size as a safe area in the infected world.
Bodies in the Museum shows lifeless figures inside a building, showing loss and danger.
The art sets the tone of the show: isolated and broken with survivors in harsh environments.

“Where Are We Going?” by Kevin Sherwood & James McCawley (2013):

Kevin Sherwood is an American composer and sound designer.
Sherwood works at Treyarch, where he helps design sound and music for games.
James McCawley is a music producer and songwriter who frequently collaborates with Sherwood.
It was created for the Zombies mode of the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
The song is a slow rock ballad with elements of alternative rock and cinematic game music.
It uses soft piano, strings, and electronic sounds to create a sad mood.
The vocals in the song are performed by Malukah.
Her calm voice helps create a feeling of mystery.
In the game, the song is connected to the character story and the hidden Easter egg quests.
The lyrics talk about uncertainty and searching for meaning in a broken world.
The question “Where are we going?” represents the characters wondering what the future holds after the destruction caused by the zombie outbreak.
The song is part of a tradition in the Zombies mode where each map has a special hidden musical track that players can unlock during gameplay.

Quartet for the End of Time: “Abyss of the Birds” by Olivier Messiaen (1940):

Olivier Messiaen is a French composer, organist, and music teacher from the 20th century.
Messiaen composed it while he was a prisoner at Stalag VIII-A during World War II.
The music was first performed in the camp in 1941 for prisoners and guards.
The clarinet part was written for musician Henri Akoka, who was also a prisoner in the camp.
The title refers to a passage from the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
The “abyss” represents darkness and the suffering of the world.
The “birds” represent freedom and spiritual escape.
The music moves between slow, quiet sections and fast, energetic passages.
The fast clarinet runs sound like birds flying or singing.
He often used bird sounds because he believed birds were the greatest musicians in nature.
The clarinet imitates bird calls and natural sounds.
The piece is part of a chamber music work written for four instruments: clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.

Electric Funeral by Black Sabbath (1970):

Black Sabbath is a British rock band based in Birmingham, a city known for its heavy industry and factories.
The dark and loud sound of the band was partly inspired by this industrial environment.
The original members were Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums).
It appears on their album Paranoid.
The song is a heavy metal track with slow, dark guitar riffs and a heavy rhythm.
The main guitar riff is a distorted guitar sound which helps define the heavy metal style.
The vocals adds a dramatic and eerie feeling to the song.
The phrase “electric funeral” refers to people dying because of nuclear weapons and radiation.
The song reflects fears about nuclear war during the time of the Cold War.
This style helped shape the sound of early heavy metal music in the 1970s.
The song also fits the darker themes often used by Black Sabbath, including war, fear, and the future of humanity.

“It’s the End of the World as We Know It” by REM (1987):

REM is an American rock band based in Athens.
It appears on their album Document.
The song is known for its fast tempo and rapid lyrics.
The lead singer Michael Stipe sings many lines quickly in a stream-of-consciousness style.
The lyrics include many references to historical figures, places, and strange events.
These references create the feeling of information overload, like the world is full of disasters.
The title phrase “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine” suggests that even though the world seems chaotic, the speaker is strangely calm about it.
The song reflects feelings from the late 1980s, when people were thinking about global problems during the Cold War and rapid social change.
The song mixes alternative rock, folk rock, and punk energy, creating an upbeat but anxious sound.

"Chaos, then catastrophe. Researchers have found that one of the signs that an ecosystem is about to collapse is that things become more volatile—for instance, the amount of chlorophyll in a lake rapidly spikes and plunges. Global climate change is causing something similar: extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts have grown more frequent. Even flights are facing more turbulence. Discuss with your team: what should we do if the climate passes a point of no return? Would it be okay to spend fewer resources on fighting climate change if the battle is already lost?"

Scientists study ecosystems to find early warning signs before environmental collapse happens.
Environmental collapse occurs when an ecosystem suddenly changes into a different stable state. This is called a regime shift.
One warning sign is large fluctuations in environmental data, which show the system is becoming unstable.
Researchers tested this idea by adding predatory bass fish to a lake ecosystem.
As the number of bass increased, the food web changed and species behavior shifted.
Scientists tracked changes in the lake using sensors that measured chemical and biological data.
Rising chlorophyll levels and plankton changes signaled that the ecosystem was approaching a shift.
These warning signals appeared more than a year before the collapse happened.
Predicting collapse early could help prevent environmental damage and protect ecosystems.

The study shows that global warming is increasing extreme day-to-day temperature changes around the world.
Scientists say these extreme changes should be treated as a separate type of extreme weather event.
Observations show that these temperature swings have become more frequent since the 1960s, especially in mid- and low-latitude regions.
The main cause is greenhouse gas warming, which changes atmospheric conditions and energy balance on Earth.
Climate models predict these extreme day-to-day temperature changes will increase further by 2100 as global warming continues.
In areas where about 80% of the world’s population lives, the frequency of these events are expected to rise.
Rapid temperature swings are linked to dry soils and unstable atmospheric pressure patterns.
Scientists warn that stronger temperature variability could create new risks for ecosystems, public health, and climate adaptation.

Scientists warn that climate change is increasing extreme temperature swings from one day to the next.
These sudden temperature jumps can happen when weather systems shift quickly, causing rapid warming or cooling.
The problem is becoming more common as the planet gets warmer.
Rapid temperature changes can be dangerous for human health, especially for people with heart or breathing problems.
Crops and ecosystems may also struggle because plants and animals cannot quickly adapt to sudden temperature changes.
Scientists say these extreme shifts are another sign of how climate change is affecting global weather patterns.

Scientists warn that the world may have reached its first climate tipping point.
A tipping point happens when small environmental changes push a system into a major and often irreversible shift.
Research shows warm-water coral reefs are already passing their thermal tipping point because of global warming.
These reefs support about one billion people and around one-quarter of marine life.
Scientists estimate the tipping threshold at about 1.2 °C of warming above pre-industrial levels.
The planet has already warmed to about 1.4 °C, meaning the impacts are already beginning.
Coral reef loss could harm biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal protection for many communities.
Scientists say fast global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is needed to prevent further irreversible climate damage.

"Some investors are looking for business opportunities around the warming of the Earth. Explore some of those opportunities, then discuss with your team: should people be allowed to profit from rising temperatures? Could you imagine a company (or even a government) intentionally contributing to climate change, or other potential disasters, to benefit its own interests?"

Some investment firms are putting over $100 million into technologies designed to cool the planet, such as solar geoengineering.
These investors believe climate change may become severe enough that emergency climate-cooling technologies will be needed.
Solar geoengineering would try to reflect sunlight away from Earth to lower global temperatures.
If governments eventually adopt these technologies, early investors could earn billions of dollars from the industry.
Many scientists warn the technology is risky and could have unknown environmental side effects.
Critics say investing in these technologies may encourage people to rely on future fixes instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions now.
The debate shows growing concern that current climate policies may not be enough to stop severe warming.