he climate crisis has brought the world to the brink of several "disastrous" tipping points, The Guardian reported.

According to a new study, five dangerous tipping points may have already been passed due to the 1.1 degrees Celsius global warming triggered by humanity to date.

These include the collapse of the Greenland ice cap, which eventually led to a sharp rise in sea levels, the collapse of a key current in the North Atlantic, the reduction of rainfall on which billions of people depend for food, and the dramatic melting of the carbon-rich permafrost.

According to the analysis, at 1.5°C, the minimum expected rise, four of the five tipping points go from possible to probable. Also, at 1.5°C, five additional tipping points become possible, including changes in extensive northern forests and the loss of nearly all mountain glaciers.

In total, researchers have found evidence of 16 tipping points, with scientists estimating that the last six require a global warming of at least 2°C. The tipping points will take effect on time scales ranging from a few years to centuries.

“The Earth may have left a ‘safe’ climate state beyond 1C global warming,” the researchers concluded, with the whole of human civilisation having developed in temperatures below this level. Passing one tipping point is often likely to help trigger others, producing cascades. But this is still being studied and was not included, meaning the analysis may present the minimum danger.

Professor Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, who was part of the research team, said: “The world is heading towards 2-3C of global warming.