Science funding is generally viewed as a positive investment, particularly when aimed at addressing significant threats to humanity. Recently, the UK government announced an allocation of £81 million from the Advanced Research & Invention Agency to enhance our understanding of critical climate “tipping points.” This funding initiative is indeed a welcome development in the fight against climate change. However, the framing of this funding effort raises some concerns.
The agency indicates that the resources will be directed towards establishing an early-warning system (EWS) designed to accurately predict when a system is at risk of tipping. This initiative will also focus on determining the timing of potential tipping points and their subsequent impacts.
