World close to ‘irreversible’ climate breakdown, warn major studies

Key UN reports published in last two days warn urgent and collective action needed - as oil firms report astronomical profits

The climate crisis has reached a really bleak moment", one of the world's leading climate scientists has said, after a slew of major reports laid bare how close the planet is to catastrophe.

Collective action is needed by the world's nations more now than at any point since the second world war to avoid climate tipping points, Prof Johan Rockstrom said, but geopolitical tensions are at a high.