LONDON, 20 October 2026 — Climate scientist Johan Rockström has warned that global warming driven by fossil-fuel emissions is accelerating and pushing several major ecosystems closer to potentially irreversible tipping points.

Speaking at the Reuters Sustainability Europe conference, Rockström said coral reefs and parts of the Amazon rainforest face damage that could become irreversible.

He also warned that parts of the Atlantic Ocean circulation system, which helps moderate Western Europe’s climate, could be approaching a dangerous threshold.

Scientists expect the world to exceed the 1.5°C warming level in the coming years, increasing the risks of extreme weather and ecological disruption.

The warning comes ahead of the United Nations COP31 climate negotiations, which are scheduled to begin in November in Turkey.

Rockström urged businesses to treat climate protection and nature conservation as connected priorities, combining emissions reductions with investment in biodiversity and freshwater resources.

Source: Reuters report carried by Internazionale, 20 October 2026.