 Estimates on how much longer Earth will be able to continue to support life range from 500 million years ( Myr ) , to as long as 2 @.@ 3 billion years ( Ga ) . Earth 's long @-@ term future is closely tied to that of the Sun . As a result of the steady accumulation of helium at the Sun 's core , the Sun 's total luminosity will slowly increase . The luminosity of the Sun will grow by 10 % over the next 1 @.@ 1 Ga and by 40 % over the next 3 @.@ 5 Ga . Climate models indicate that the rise in radiation reaching Earth is likely to have dire consequences , including the loss of the oceans . 
