The world is approaching decisions that will shape lives, economies and ecosystems for generations. Climate change is no longer a distant risk; its impacts are already visible in food systems, health, cities and financial stability.

Yet the future is not fixed. Research on tipping points shows that when leadership, investment and public confidence align, change can accelerate rapidly and systems that once seemed immovable can shift.

Global Tipping Points Conference 2026 (GTP 2026) focuses on where that momentum can be unlocked. Hosted in Asia for the first time, the meeting brings together leaders from science, finance, culture and policy in a region where climate risks are intensifying but where many of the solutions are already emerging at scale.

Explore the Programme

Conference Themes

Three Pathways to Change

Understanding the Shift

Clarifying what is changing in the world today, including climate and nature risks, as well as social and economic pressures that affect health, food security and stability.

Igniting Imagination

Exploring how culture, faith, creativity and moral leadership help people, communities and institutions transition into reformation.

Accelerating Action

Identifying what policies, investments and partnerships can reinforce each other and create lasting momentum.

The conference is designed for leaders who want clarity, confidence that they are not alone, and credible pathways forward.

Our Speakers

Speaker Highlights

New Reality

What are Global Tipping Points

The Global Tipping Points initiative, led by Prof. Tim Lenton, is a global research and policy effort focused on understanding critical thresholds in the Earth system where small changes can trigger large, irreversible shifts in climate, ecosystems, and human societies.

It identifies both dangerous and positive tipping points that could rapidly accelerate solutions like clean energy adoption or ecosystem restoration. The initiative aims to translate cutting-edge science into actionable pathways for governments, finance, and society to trigger rapid transformations toward a stable climate and a healthier planet.

To learn more about Global Tipping Points, visit global-tipping-points.org

“Systems that once seemed immovable can suddenly shift.”

Download GTP 2025 Report

Explore on global-tipping-points.org

Governance

We urgently need new types of governance to cope with the threat posed by Earth system tipping points.

Earth System Tipping Points

Earth system tipping points pose profound risks to national security, food security, health and wellbeing.

Positive tipping points

We need to identify and trigger positive tipping points to accelerate to net zero.

Leadership Voices

Words from Our Co-Chairs

“The Global Tipping Points Conference 2026 is a great opportunity for a bunch of us to come together as businesses, as thinkers, as policymakers, both to wrestle down the incredible risks we're running in crossing tipping points in the Earth system—our life support system—but also how can we together seize the positive tipping point opportunities to accelerate us out of trouble and into a healthier, happier, flourishing future together.”

Tim Lenton

Co-Chair · Founding Director, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter

“Scientifically, we know we are moving towards profound challenges and risks at the planetary scale, with an increasing risk of tipping points in the Earth system. Against this backdrop, the Malaysian Global Tipping Point Conference offers a crucial forum to examine how positive societal tipping points can help build more equitable, stable and resilient societies.”

Johan Rockström

Co-Chair · Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

“This year, the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health will proudly host the Global Tipping Points Conference at Sunway University, the first in Asia. Together, scientists, policymakers, business leaders, civil society, Indigenous voices, artists, and youth will unite to spotlight South and Southeast Asia's lived realities and accelerate the positive tipping points we need for a healthier planet and future. Join us in Sunway this October and we will see you there! Follow us on @sunwaycph to find out more!”

Jemilah Mahmood

Co-Chair · Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University

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