Amazon Nearing Irreversible Tipping Point, Scientists Warn Before COP30
Researchers caution that the Amazon rainforest is rapidly approaching an ecological tipping point that could make recovery impossible. Accelerating deforestation and climate change are threatening one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.
Current studies estimate that around 34% of the forest has been either cleared or heavily degraded. Experts are calling for urgent global action ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.
Escalating Damage to the Rainforest
Scientists report that about 17% of the Amazon has been completely deforested—an area roughly the size of France and Germany combined—while another 17% shows major signs of degradation from human activities such as logging and farming.
Regional Climate Impacts
Franco-Peruvian researcher Jhan-Carlo Espinoza from France's Institute of Research for Development noted that the southern Amazon Basin is experiencing dramatic ecological changes.
- In Bolivia, increasingly severe and prolonged droughts are turning rainforest lands into savanna-like regions.
- Northern parts of the basin are experiencing intensified flooding caused by disruptions in the hydrological cycle.
Record droughts in 2023 and 2024 have accelerated these alarming transformations, signaling the growing vulnerability of the ecosystem.
Consequences of Combined Pressures
The dual impact of deforestation and rising global temperatures has weakened the Amazon's ability to absorb carbon dioxide and sustain essential rainfall cycles across South America.
Author Summary
The Amazon rainforest faces a critical threshold, as deforestation and climate stress push it toward irreversible collapse, demanding immediate attention at COP30.