'Collapse of civilisation is the most likely outcome' warn scientists

 Scientists have issued a stark warning that climate change poses an existential threat to humanity as societies grapple with intensifying pressures from our planet's evolving environment.

Earth is barreling toward several critical "global tipping" points that risk triggering devastating consequences for humankind.

Among the most dire milestones on the horizon are the Amazon Rainforest's collapse, the total dissolution of ice sheets at the poles and surging worldwide temperatures.

When coupled with our booming population, these elements could unleash widespread catastrophe. It comes after a 'time traveler' from the year 4413 made a terrifying claim about the future of humanity.

As ice sheets dissolve, ocean levels will rise dramatically, shrinking available living space for humanity even as our numbers explode, driving displaced communities deeper into interior regions, reports the Daily Star.

Climbing temperatures will make enormous portions of Earth unlivable, creating waves of climate migrants forced to seek new homes, while Amazon destruction and the loss of other tropical forests will speed up the planet's warming trajectory.

Will Steffen, emeritus professor at Australian National University, warns that humanity needs at least 30 years to change direction, though by that point the damage may be irreversible.

Prof Steffan warned Voice of Action: "Given the momentum in both the Earth and human systems, and the growing difference between the 'reaction time' needed to steer humanity towards a more sustainable future, and the 'intervention time' left to avert a range of catastrophes in both the physical climate system (e.g., melting of Arctic sea ice) and the biosphere (e.g., loss of the Great Barrier Reef), we are already deep into the trajectory towards collapse."

He continued: "That is, the intervention time we have left has, in many cases, shrunk to levels that are shorter than the time it would take to transition to a more sustainable system."

The professor posed a stark question: "The fact that many of the features of the Earth System that are being damaged or lost constitute 'tipping points' that could well link to form a 'tipping cascade' raises the ultimate question: Have we already lost control of the system? Is collapse now inevitable?".

Prof Steffan drew a chilling parallel to explain the crisis facing humanity.

He explained: "If the Titanic realises that it's in trouble and it has about 5km that it needs to slow and steer the ship, but it's only 3km away from the iceberg, it's already doomed."

Global temperatures keep rising relentlessly, with scientists confirming the mercury has increased by roughly 0.15-0.20C every ten years.

The warming has led to dramatic ice loss in polar areas, while researchers have also raised concerns about frozen ground melting beneath the surface. Permafrost constitutes a permanently frozen layer beneath the ground, covering 18 million square kilometres throughout the uppermost areas of the northern hemisphere.

This frozen zone contains rocks, soil, sand and safeguards remnants of plant life and microorganisms that have stayed entombed in the permafrost for thousands of years.

Yet this also means the carbon dioxide (CO2) from dead vegetation and microorganisms has been similarly stored in Earth's natural deep freeze - and as permafrost begins to melt at an alarming rate, this CO2 will eventually be released into the atmosphere.

Current estimates suggest there could be up to 1.5 trillion metric tons of carbon stored in permafrost.