Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds
A new study indicates that natural climate feedback loops, such as thawing permafrost and forest fires, could increase global warming by an additional 20% to 30% by the end of the century. These natural emissions are currently largely excluded from standard climate projections.
Why it matters
Understanding these feedback loops is critical for accurate climate modeling and highlights the urgency of addressing emissions beyond human-made fossil fuel consumption.
Fiercer wildfires in drying forests are occurring globally, as seen in this image from Indonesia in August 2026. Fiercer wildfires in drying forests are occurring globally, as seen in this image from Indonesia in August 2026. Climate crisis Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds Emissions of planet-heating methane and CO2 from natural sources are worsening the climate crisis, paper says
Prefer the Guardian on Google Rising global temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels are transforming the world’s forests, wetlands and tundra to the point they are releasing emissions that could further worsen global heating by as much as 30%, a new study has found.
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