The latest UN IPCC Climate Change Report is an alarming call for humanity to take action right now.
The UN IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — Sixth Assessment Report is the latest of IPCC reports that assess the scientific knowledge on climate change including our past, present and future climate, its impact and future risks and options for adaptation and mitigation.
The reports inform policymakers what scientists know about climate change. They are an important resource for society, domestic policymaking and global climate negotiations.
IPCC reports are neutral with respect to policy choices. Governments and experts review successive drafts of the reports. The process is rigorous, robust and transparent.
The Sixth Assessment Report is the IPCC's most ambitious cycle fo far and has been like no other.
Here are the top 5 key takeaways:
1. Climate change is human-caused.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was very clear and succinct, "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land."
2. The last decade was the hottest in the last 100,000 years
Global greenhouse gases have elevated global temperature by about 1.1° Celsius vis-à-vis 19th century average.
3. Methane in the atmosphere is skyrocketing
Data reveals that atmospheric methane is the highest it's ever been in the last 800,000 years largely due to unsustainable agriculture.
4. Climate impacts will spare no one
The impacts will worsen even as the world gets hotter and will come in the form of heat waves, droughts, flooding, cyclones and sea leavel rise.
5. As emissions cease, temperatures will stabilise
The scientists are confident that pursuing “strong, rapid and sustained reductions” in methane emissions, as well as CO₂ and nitrous oxide, will slow global warming
To access the full report, including a fully interactive Atlas that allows for a flexible spatial and temporal analysis of both data-driven climate change information and assessment findings in the report, click here.
