News Highlights:
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in a report that calls for rapid action against climate change to secure a liveable future.
- According to the IPCC, certain ecosystems with low resilience will experience irreversible negative effects if the earth’s temperature rises by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Key Takeaway:
- This is the final report of the sixth assessment cycle of the UN panel.
- The first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report was published in 1990.
- The Intergovernmental Panel publishes the Assessment Reports on Climate Change every 7 years.
Key Findings of the Report:
- Greenhouse Gases:
- Over the period between 2010 to 2019, the total anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases continued to rise, as did the total cumulative carbon dioxide emissions since 1850.
- While Greenhouse gas emissions rose less rapidly between 2010 and 2019 than they did between 2000 and 2009, they were higher than in the previous decade.
- All major Global sectors have seen an increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 2010.
- Primarily, cities are responsible for a growing share of global emissions.
- The carbon emissions from fossil fuels and industrial processes are reduced because of the improvement in the energy intensity of GDP and carbon intensity of energy.
- The rise in global industrial activity, transportation, energy supply, agriculture, and buildings, however, increases emissions more than this.
- Least Developed Countries Emissions
- At least 18 countries have sustained Greenhouse Gas emission reduction for more than 10 years.
- Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States have much lower per capita emissions than the global average, excluding CO2 from land use, land-use change, and forestry.
- There is a disproportionately high share of global household green gas emissions coming from the 10% of households with the highest per capita emissions.
- Raise in Temperature
- The global surface temperature was 1.09 degrees Celsius higher in 2011-2020 than in 1850-1900, with larger increases over land than over the ocean.
- Since 1850, each of the last four decades has been successively warmer than any decade that preceded it.
- From 1850-1900 to 2010-2019, humans caused global surface temperature increases estimated to be 1.07 degrees Celsius.
- The Arctic sea ice area decreased by about 40% in September and 10% in March between 1979-1988 and 2010-2019.
- The global mean sea level increased by 0.20 between 1901 and 2018.
- Climate zones have shifted poleward in both hemispheres.
- Impending Threats
- Concentrations of carbon dioxide have been unmatched for at least 2 million years.
- Glacial Retreat unmatched for 2000 + years.
- The last decade was warmer than any period for 1,25,000 years.
- The sea level has risen faster than in any prior century for 3,000 years.
- Summer Arctic ice coverage has been smaller than ever in the last 1000 years.
- The ocean has been warming faster than ever since the end of the last ice age.
- Ocean acidification has been at its highest level in the last 26,000 years.
- Technology with Low Emissions
- Since 2010, unit costs of several low-emission technologies have fallen, and their global adoption has risen continuously.
- Due to weaker enabling conditions, including limited finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity, Innovation has lagged in developing countries.
- Digitalization has adverse side-effects unless appropriately governed, for example, increasing electronic waste, negative impacts on labour markets, etc.
- Financial Shortfall
- In developing countries, for the Agriculture, Forestry, and other land use sector, the gaps are the widest for the financial flow.
- It is recommended to scale up public grants as well as increase levels of public finance in developing countries.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:
- About:
- It is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change.
- It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change currently has 195 members, including India.
- IPCC assessments:
- IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate-related policies.
- They underlie negotiations at the UN Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: The Hindu