IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report
On 9th August, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) published its Sixth Assessment Report. It contains the most up-to-date and thorough account of the current state of climate change and the science behind it. Some key points:
- The science cannot be any clearer that human emissions are the cause of the global temperature rise and climate change.
“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.”
- Global surface temperature was 1.09C higher in the decade between 2011-2020 than between 1850-1900.
"Global surface temperature will continue to increase until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered."
- Due to past GHG emissions, all IPCC scenarios suggest we are headed for a warmer planet with more frequent extreme weather events.
“Many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level.”
- We can still limit warming to below 1.5 degrees and further climate change. But deep and rapid reductions in GHG emissions are needed NOW by all nations.
“Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.”
The full report and headline statements can be found here: IPCC - AR6 Climate Change 2021.