Social tipping points and Earth systems dynamics

Social tipping points and Earth systems dynamics

Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: R. Alexander eBentley, Eleanor J. Maddison, P. Helen Ranner, John eBissell, Camila C.D.S. Caiado, Pojanath eBhatanacharoen, Timothy eClark, Marc eBotha, Folarin eAkinbami, Matthew eHollow, Ranald eMichie, Brian eHuntley, Sarah E. Curtis, Philip eGarnett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Paleoecology
Paleoclimatology
Social collapse
ecological breakdown
research synergies
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00035/full
Description
Summary:Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to predict, however, and the current formulation of EWS, based on a physical system analogy, may be insufficient. As an alternative set of EWS for social systems, we join with other authors encouraging a focus on heterogeneity, connectivity through social networks and individual thresholds to change.
ISSN:2296-665X

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