Is the concept of ‘tipping point’ helpful for describing and communicating possible climate futures?

NO: It misleads as to the nature of climate change

The concept and terminology of tipping points has been widely used to invoke the threats of passing thresholds of irreversible and/or abrupt change in the near immediate future. However, climate change is primarily a problem of incremental cumulative harm. A false emphasis on immediacy and abruptness is misleading and harms the public understanding of climate science. Scientists should avoid this outcome.