A race to the tip—revisiting societal tipping points in the public climate debate

Two decades after the tipping points became part of climate policy discussions, this study examines how the relation between societal tipping points and climate tipping points is understood in public discourse. We analyze views on how political and social actions might impact the race between negative climate tipping points and positive societal tipping points, drawing on a global sample of 10 news outlets from 2020 to 2024. In line with previous research, our findings suggest that “Tipping point” rarely implies an irreversible, self-reinforcing process. Three discursive tensions stem from the concept's ambiguous ontology: the kind of transition envisioned, agency of actors and politics needed, and means for change. Positive tipping points offer a discursive balance, allowing discussions on negative climate tipping points without excessive pessimism. The paper ends with a reflection on whether this shift may dilute the focus on risks and promotes a depoliticized belief that incremental changes will lead to a conflict-free transition.