International scientists issue State of the Climate Report, highlight mitigation strategies

A comprehensive new report published in the journal BioScience reveals that Earth's climate crisis is accelerating at an alarming rate, with 22 of 34 planetary vital signs now at record levels. The study, co-led by Dr. William J. Ripple of Oregon State University and Dr. Christopher Wolf of Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates, presents stark evidence that Earth is approaching climate chaos.

The vital signs tracked in the report represent key indicators of human activities and their associated climate responses, including energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and concentrations, global temperatures, ice sheet masses, ocean conditions, and extreme weather patterns. Together, these metrics provide a sweeping view of Earth's changing climate and its causes.

The report builds on a framework introduced by Ripple and colleagues in 2020, who “issued a declaration of a climate emergency that has garnered support from approximately 15,800 scientist signatories worldwide." The most recent data confirm that the planet experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, signaling what researchers call an "escalation of climate upheaval."

"So far, in 2025, atmospheric carbon dioxide is at a record level, likely worsened by a sudden drop in land carbon uptake partly due to El Niño and intense forest fires," the authors state. They caution that "a dangerous hothouse Earth trajectory may now be more likely due to accelerated warming, self-reinforcing feedbacks, and tipping points."

The report highlights cascading risks, including a potential collapse of the Atlantic Ocean meridional overturning circulation, which "could trigger abrupt and irreversible climate disruptions, including drastic shifts in regional weather patterns, intensified droughts and floods, and reduced agricultural productivity in key regions."

Despite the dire threats, the scientists emphasize that  "Climate change mitigation strategies are available, cost effective, and urgently needed. From forest protection and renewables to plant-rich diets, we can still limit warming if we act boldly and quickly," they write. Additional strategies highlighted include reducing food loss and waste—which accounts for roughly 8-10% of global emissions—and restoring degraded ecosystems such as wetlands, peatlands, and mangroves. The report notes that "the cost of mitigating climate change is likely far lower than the global economic damages that climate-related impacts could cause."

The authors stress the power of collective action, noting that even in the face of looming climatic tipping points, "social tipping points can drive rapid change. Even small, sustained nonviolent movements can shift public norms and policy, highlighting a vital path forward amid political gridlock and ecological crisis." Unlocking the power of human action will require continued public engagement, say the authors. Importantly, they note that "despite majorities in nearly every country supporting strong climate action, most individuals believe they are in the minority."

Ripple, Wolf, and colleagues close their report by emphasizing that climate change is fundamentally an issue of justice. "We are disproportionately harming the vulnerable and marginalized—those least responsible for the crisis," the authors note. Yet they maintain that these harms can still be ameliorated through urgent action. "The future is still being written" through choices in policy, investment, and collective action.

The full report is available in BioScience.