September 17th, 2024
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has unveiled its latest report, last month, highlighting the dire consequences of human-induced climate change on both human wellbeing and the health of the planet.
Despite ongoing efforts to mitigate risks, climate change continues to cause dangerous and widespread disruptions in nature, affecting billions globally, particularly impacting those least able to cope.
Urgent action required
The report, part of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), underlines the urgent need for ambitious and accelerated action to adapt to climate change while simultaneously making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Highlighting increased occurrences of heatwaves, droughts, and floods surpassing tolerance thresholds for many species, the IPCC report presents a grim reality of cascading impacts, with millions facing acute food and water insecurity.
A narrowing window for action
According to the IPCC, the world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C. Surpassing this warming level, even temporarily, could lead to irreversible severe impacts and increased risks for society, including threats to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements. This calls for a decisive global action to avoid missing a rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.
Safeguarding and strengthening nature
The report emphasizes the importance of safeguarding and strengthening nature to secure a liveable future. With healthy ecosystems being more resilient to climate change and providing life-critical services such as food and clean water, the report advocates for the restoration of degraded ecosystems and the conservation of a significant portion of the Earth's habitats. However, adequate finance and political support are deemed essential for realizing these goals.
Cities at the forefront of climate action
Focusing on urban areas, where over half of the world's population resides, the IPCC report identifies cities as hotspots of climate change impacts and risks. With people's health, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure increasingly at risk, cities also emerge as crucial elements of the solution, offering opportunities for climate-resilient development and sustainable practices.
Global challenge, local solutions
The IPCC asserts that tackling climate change is a global challenge requiring local solutions. Providing extensive regional information, the report aims to enable Climate Resilient Development, emphasizing that such development becomes increasingly challenging with further warming. Achieving effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions hinges on adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment, and partnership, focusing on equity and justice.