# Is Global Warming Speeding Up? Learn 11 Climate Words from the News

> Rockström warns global warming is accelerating. Learn accelerate, tipping point, irreversible and 8 more climate words, with a dialogue and a quiz.

- URL: https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-global-warming-accelerating-tipping-points
- Author: Ambitious Learner Editorial Team（Ambitious Learner Ambitious Learner）
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Last updated: 2026-10-21
- Category: News English

## Key points in 30 seconds

On October 20, 2026, climate scientist Johan Rockström warned at a Reuters sustainability conference that global warming is accelerating, and the 2026 State of the Climate report published on October 14 also found that the pace of warming appears to have sped up. This lesson uses an original news English passage, an audio recording and a plain-English summary to teach 11 words and phrases such as accelerate, tipping point, irreversible and threshold, plus 3 sentence patterns, a dialogue and a 5-question quiz.

- **Global warming vs climate change**: Global warming is the rise in Earth's average temperature; climate change is the broader term for the whole climate system changing.
- **Tipping point meaning**: A critical point: once it is passed, a big change happens that is hard or impossible to reverse.
- **How to use accelerate**: To get faster: Global warming is accelerating. In everyday speech you can say it is speeding up.
- **The news in brief**: On October 20, 2026, Rockström warned that warming is accelerating, the world could pass 1.5°C in the next few years, and coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest are near tipping points.
- **Report figures**: Warming was about 0.05°C per decade in 1880–1970 and about 0.36°C per decade in 2010–2024; in 2025, renewables (including hydropower) generated more electricity than coal worldwide for the first time.

## Is global warming speeding up? Learn news English from one climate story

Summers seem to get hotter every year, and typhoons and heavy rain feel more extreme than ever, so many people wonder: is global warming getting faster? On October 20, 2026, Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany and one of the world's best-known climate scientists, gave a clear answer at the Reuters Sustainability Europe conference: global warming is not just continuing, it is accelerating ([Reuters report](https://bdnews24.com/environment/v5m2536qhp)).

This story is a great way to practise **news English**. Climate topics come up again and again in TOEIC and IELTS reading and in international news, and once you know words like accelerate, tipping point and irreversible, you can follow most **global warming news in English**. If you have ever wondered about the **tipping point meaning** and how to use it in a conversation at work, this lesson covers it all in one place.

First, read our original English passage (about 230 words, B1–B2 level). Then work through a plain-English summary, 11 key words, 3 sentence patterns, a dialogue and a short quiz. You can finish today's news English practice in about 15 minutes.

## Global warming in English: a 30-second overview

**Global warming is the rise in Earth's average temperature; climate change is the wider term.** To say warming is getting faster, you can say Global warming is accelerating, or, more casually, Global warming is speeding up.

| Word and part of speech | Meaning | Common collocation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **global warming** (n.) | the rise in Earth's average temperature | slow down global warming |
| **climate change** (n.) | wider changes in the climate, such as rainfall, extreme weather and sea levels | tackle climate change |
| **accelerate** (v.) | to get faster; to speed up | Warming is accelerating. |
| **tipping point** (n.) | a critical point after which a big change happens | reach a tipping point |

### Three sentences to describe global warming

- **Global warming is speeding up.** (It is getting faster.)
- **Some ecosystems are close to their tipping points.** (They are near the point of no return.)
- **The damage may become irreversible.** (It may be impossible to undo.)

## News fact card: what is this story about?

- **Topic:** Global Warming Is Accelerating
- **News report:** [Global warming is accelerating as ecosystems near tipping points, Rockström says](https://bdnews24.com/environment/v5m2536qhp) (Reuters, October 20, 2026; this lesson draws on the versions republished by bdnews24 and CTV News)
- **Research report:** [2026 State of the Climate report](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1147223) (journal BioScience, October 14, 2026)
- **Key points:** The world could warm by more than 1.5°C in the next few years; coral reefs, the Amazon rainforest and parts of an Atlantic Ocean current system are close to tipping points.
- **Report figures:** Warming was about 0.05°C per decade from 1880 to 1970 and about 0.36°C per decade from 2010 to 2024, and the report says the pace of warming "appears to have" sped up. In 2025, renewable energy (including solar, wind and hydropower) generated more electricity than coal worldwide for the first time. Rockström is one of the report's co-authors.
- **Suggested level:** B1–B2 (our own difficulty suggestion, not an official certified level)
- **Focus:** climate change vocabulary, news English, sentence patterns for describing data

The English passage below is an original teaching text that we wrote based on the Reuters report and the research news release. It is not the original news article.

## News English passage: Scientists Warn Global Warming Is Speeding Up

[🔊 Listen to the news story](https://media.ambitious-learner.com/articles/news-english-global-warming-accelerating-tipping-points/audio/1ef25e93-afcc-405e-a43f-0769c181e118.mp3)

Try listening once with the player above before you read. Listen for three key points: What did the scientist say is changing about warming? Which ecosystems are close to tipping points? What good news is in the report? Then read the English passage below.

Global warming is not just continuing — it is speeding up, according to one of the world's leading climate scientists. Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, shared this warning on October 20 at the Reuters Sustainability Europe conference.

Rockström said the world could pass 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming in the next few years. This number is an important threshold. Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to try to keep warming below it. He also warned that some key ecosystems are close to their tipping points. After that point, the damage may become irreversible. Coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest are two examples. Parts of a major Atlantic Ocean current system, which helps keep Western Europe mild, may also be close to collapse.

His message matches a recent report that he helped write. The 2026 State of the Climate report, published in the journal BioScience on October 14, found that the pace of warming appears to have sped up. From 1880 to 1970, temperatures rose by about 0.05°C per decade. From 2010 to 2024, the rate was about 0.36°C per decade.

There is some good news, too. The same report said renewable energy, such as solar, wind and hydropower, produced more electricity than coal worldwide for the first time in 2025. The next UN climate talks, COP31, are set to begin on November 9.

## Plain-English summary

A top climate scientist says global warming is not only still happening — it is getting faster. Johan Rockström, who leads the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, gave this warning on October 20 at a Reuters conference called Sustainability Europe.

He said the world may go above 1.5°C of warming within the next few years. That is an important limit: in the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to try to keep warming below it. He also said some important natural systems are near their tipping points. If they go past that point, the damage may never be undone. Coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest are two examples. Part of a big ocean current system in the Atlantic, which helps keep Western Europe's weather mild, may also be close to breaking down.

A new report that Rockström helped write says something similar. The 2026 State of the Climate report came out in the journal BioScience on October 14. It found that warming seems to be happening faster than before: about 0.05°C every ten years from 1880 to 1970, but about 0.36°C every ten years from 2010 to 2024.

There is also some good news. In 2025, renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydropower made more electricity than coal around the world for the first time. The next UN climate meeting, COP31, is due to start on November 9.

## Key words and phrases: 11 climate change words

| Word / phrase | Part of speech | Meaning | In the news | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **accelerate** | verb | to get faster; to make something happen sooner | Global warming is accelerating. | Our team accelerated the project so we could finish before Lunar New Year. |
| **speed up** | phrasal verb | to get faster (a more casual way to say accelerate) | Global warming is speeding up. | Practicing English every day can really speed up your progress. |
| **threshold** | noun | a level or point you must reach or must not pass | This number is an important threshold. | Many companies set a TOEIC threshold of 750 for overseas positions. |
| **tipping point** | noun | the point at which a small change leads to a big, often permanent one | some key ecosystems are close to their tipping points | Working until midnight every day was the tipping point — I decided to change jobs. |
| **irreversible** | adjective | impossible to change back or undo | the damage may become irreversible | Before you click "delete," remember that the change is irreversible. |
| **ecosystem** | noun | all the living things in an area and how they depend on each other | some key ecosystems | Kenting's coral reefs are part of a fragile marine ecosystem. |
| **coral reef** | noun | a structure under the sea built by tiny animals called corals | Coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest are two examples. | If you study in Cebu, you can go diving and see coral reefs on the weekend. |
| **collapse** | noun / verb | a sudden failure or breakdown; to fall down | may also be close to collapse | The old bridge collapsed after the heavy rain, so we had to take another road. |
| **pace** | noun | the speed at which something happens | the pace of warming appears to have sped up | One-on-one lessons let you learn at your own pace. |
| **renewable energy** | noun | energy from sources that do not run out, such as sun, wind and water | renewable energy produced more electricity than coal | Taiwan is building more offshore wind farms to increase renewable energy. |
| **per decade** | phrase | every ten years | about 0.36°C per decade | Prices in Taipei seem to double almost every decade. |

**Tip:** accelerate is more formal and is common in news, reports and business writing; speed up is more casual. Choose accelerate in an email or report, and speed up when chatting with friends.

## Sentence patterns: 3 patterns for the news and the workplace

### Pattern 1: A is not just B — it is C.

From the news: Global warming **is not just** continuing — **it is** speeding up.

How it works: use not just to accept one fact, then use a dash to add a stronger point. It sounds more conversational and more powerful than not only… but also….

Try it: Learning English **is not just** a skill — **it is** a ticket to more job opportunities.

### Pattern 2: S + be close to + noun / V-ing (something is nearly in a certain state)

From the news: Some key ecosystems **are close to** their tipping points.

How it works: put a noun or a V-ing form after close to to mean "almost" or "nearly".

Try it: I'm **close to finishing** my working holiday application.

### Pattern 3: From A to B, … From C to D, … (comparing two time periods)

From the news: **From** 1880 **to** 1970, temperatures **rose by** about 0.05°C per decade. **From** 2010 **to** 2024, the rate was about 0.36°C per decade.

How it works: placing two From… to… phrases side by side highlights the difference between the periods, a common way to report changing numbers in the news. Note that rise by tells you how much something increased.

Try it: **From** 2020 **to** 2023, I studied alone; **from** 2024 **to** now, I've taken one-on-one classes, and my score **rose by** 150 points.

## Dialogue practice: talking about the warming news in the office kitchen

Setting: two coworkers, Amy and Ben, are chatting in the office kitchen.

- **Amy:** Did you see the news? A top scientist says global warming is accelerating.
- **Ben:** I'm not surprised. This summer felt hotter than ever. Is it really speeding up?
- **Amy:** He said we could pass the 1.5-degree threshold in the next few years.
- **Ben:** Wow. And I heard some coral reefs are close to their tipping point.
- **Amy:** Yes, and once they're gone, the damage could be irreversible.
- **Ben:** That's scary. I was planning to go diving in Cebu next year.
- **Amy:** Then go soon — and maybe choose a tour that protects the ecosystem.
- **Ben:** Good idea. At least renewable energy is growing at a faster pace now.

## Quiz

After reading the news passage and the vocabulary, try the 5 questions below. Choose an answer and press confirm to see the explanation.

## Want to actually speak news English?

The biggest challenge with news English is often not remembering the words, but understanding them and still not being able to say them. If you want to use words like accelerate and tipping point in meetings, job interviews or everyday conversations, one-on-one lessons are a good place to start practising.

**Ambitious Learner | Online one-on-one English lessons**: your teacher adapts the materials to your level and goals and practises speaking with you using current-affairs topics ([see our one-on-one Life English course](https://ambitious-learner.com/programs/life-english); if you need English for meetings, presentations and business emails, see our [Business English course](https://ambitious-learner.com/programs/business-english)). If you want an immersive environment, you can also learn about [study in the Philippines](https://ambitious-learner.com/overseas/language-schools). Results vary from person to person, and your actual course plan is confirmed during a consultation.

**Not sure which course suits you?**[Get a free English course consultation →](https://lin.ee/R3GZRrW) Add our official LINE account and talk with a course advisor about the right learning path for you. "Free" refers to the course consultation only; course fees and arrangements are confirmed separately.

## Further reading

- For more everyday ways to talk about weather and climate, read [How to Talk About the Weather in English](https://ambitious-learner.com/resources/weather-english-vocabulary-phrases-dialogues).
- For another climate news story, see [Australia's wettest El Niño year: news English](https://ambitious-learner.com/resources/news-english-australia-wettest-el-nino-2026).
- Want to see coral reefs for yourself? Read [Weekend island hopping from Cebu](https://ambitious-learner.com/resources/cebu-weekend-island-hopping-tours-oslob-bohol).

## Sources

- [Global warming is accelerating as ecosystems near tipping points, Rockström says](https://bdnews24.com/environment/v5m2536qhp) (Reuters, republished by bdnews24, 2026/10/20; see also the [CTV News republication](https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/article/global-warming-is-accelerating-leading-climate-scientist-rockstrom-says/)): Rockström's warning, 1.5°C, coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Ocean current system and the COP31 date are based on this report.
- [International scientists issue 2026 State of the Climate report](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1147223) (American Institute of Biological Sciences, EurekAlert! news release, 2026/10/14): the pace of warming (0.05°C → 0.36°C per decade) and renewables generating more electricity than coal for the first time in 2025 are based on this release; Rockström is a co-author of the paper; the original paper was published in BioScience ([DOI 10.1093/biosci/biag125](https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biag125)).

Facts checked on 2026/10/21. The English passage is an original rewrite for teaching purposes, not the original news text. "1.5°C is the Paris Agreement goal" is background information, not part of the original news report.

## FAQ

### What does tipping point mean?

A tipping point is a critical point: when something builds up to a certain level, a big and often irreversible change suddenly happens. In climate news it usually means the point after which an ecosystem cannot recover. In everyday English it can also mean "the straw that broke the camel's back".

### What is the difference between global warming and climate change?

Global warming means the rise in Earth's average temperature. Climate change is broader and covers changes across the whole climate system, including rainfall, extreme weather and sea levels. The two often appear together in the news, but climate change is the more complete term.

### Can accelerate and speed up be used interchangeably?

They have similar meanings: both mean "to get faster". Accelerate is more formal and common in news, reports and business writing; speed up is more casual and more common in everyday conversation. Choose accelerate in an email or report, and speed up when chatting with friends.