AUTHOR=Bentley R. A. , Maddison Eleanor J. , Ranner P. H. , Bissell John , Caiado Camila C. S. , Bhatanacharoen Pojanath , Clark Timothy , Botha Marc , Akinbami Folarin , Hollow Matthew , Michie Ranald , Huntley Brian , Curtis Sarah E. , Garnett Philip 

TITLE=Social tipping points and Earth systems dynamics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00035

DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2014.00035

ISSN=2296-665X

ABSTRACT=<p>Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to predict, however, and the current formulation of EWS, based on a physical system analogy, may be insufficient. As an alternative set of EWS for social systems, we join with other authors encouraging a focus on heterogeneity, connectivity through social networks and individual thresholds to change.</p>