A stark warning: The IPCC report

Summary

The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, launched 20th March 2023, has brought to light the urgency of the climate crisis asserting that: “there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all."

Key Takeaways

• Lack of action: Globally, we are not acting with enough pace nor urgency to achieve 1.5°C of warming, which will result in catastrophic impacts. Drought, extreme heat and floods already wreaking havoc across supply chains.

• Limited efforts: Adaptation efforts are inadequate and are failing to protect vulnerable communities, despite them being disproportionately affected. Efforts urgently need to shift from being reactive to proactive and must advance from the planning stage to implementation.

• Destruction of biodiversity: Current levels of warming are causing irreversible changes to ecosystems and wildlife, heightening the probability of crossing various tipping points and increasing urgency around nature-related regulations.

• Increasing threats: As the planet continues to heat, food insecurity, water scarcity and health risks will be gravely exacerbated. The IPCC asserts that between 32-132 million people will be forced into extreme poverty in the next decade.

• Tech as a solution: There have been some promising developments in low-carbon technologies and increased funding for their implementation and greater international acknowledgement on the need for urgent mitigation action.