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The Clock is Ticking: Urgent Action Needed Now to Secure a Livable Future, Warns UN Climate Report

The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report Provides a Blueprint for Climate Action, but Meeting Paris Agreement Targets May Be Out of Reach.

By Mari LaanePublished about a year ago 5 min read
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The Clock is Ticking: Urgent Action Needed Now to Secure a Livable Future, Warns UN Climate Report
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

The latest United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released on Monday, highlights that the world is running out of time to prevent catastrophic climate change. The report’s authors warn that the chance to secure a livable future for all is slipping away and that a rapidly closing window of opportunity exists.

Despite the stark warning, the report does highlight that the technology needed to adapt to climate change and keep harmful emissions at bay is available, and there is a clear path to a more sustainable world and a stable climate. The panel also notes that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as outlined in the landmark Paris climate agreement, may be out of reach.


The report, the culmination of over six years of work by thousands of climate scientists across the globe, does not present new findings, but rather provides an overview of recent climate science, tallies global warming’s impacts, and functions as a guide for policymakers as societies try to adapt and transform.

The report calls for a transformation now, highlighting that to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, greenhouse gas emissions would need to be cut nearly in half by 2030. However, human-caused climate change has already contributed to the planet warming about 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre industrial levels.

Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated that the IPCC report is an urgent call for global action. He notes that the stone-cold truth laid out in unassailable science by the world’s top climate experts shows that humanity is hurtling down the road to ruin and running out of time to change course.

The IPCC report comes as world leaders prepare to convene for high-level climate talks in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023. The meeting will include the first global stocktake to assess countries’ progress in reducing emissions and working towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The IPCC report’s findings and road map will undoubtedly be hot-button issues later this year at the COP28 meeting. The report’s approval by government representatives on Sunday was delayed as rich and developing countries fought over targets to reduce global emissions and for providing financial aid to nations least responsible for the climate crisis but particularly vulnerable to its impacts.

As climate change continues to threaten the planet’s future, scientists are increasingly turning to technology to help combat the crisis. In this regard, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has received increased attention in recent years as a way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCS technology involves capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes or power plants and then injecting it underground for permanent storage.

However, some scientists have raised concerns over the effectiveness and scalability of CCS technology. For example, critics argue that CCS technology is energy-intensive and may require significant amounts of land to be effective at a large scale. In addition, some experts believe that CCS technology could lead to the further expansion of the fossil fuel industry, as companies may use the technology as an excuse to continue extracting oil and gas.

Despite these concerns, CCS technology has the potential to play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, especially as many countries still rely heavily on fossil fuels. The IPCC report emphasizes that a range of solutions are needed to tackle climate change, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, along with renewable energy sources and other low-carbon technologies.

The latest IPCC report highlights the urgent need for action to combat climate change. The report underscores the importance of taking a range of approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the use of CCS technology, renewable energy sources, and low-carbon technologies. As world leaders prepare to gather for high-level climate talks later this year.

One area that the IPCC report highlights is the urgent need for governments to invest in clean energy technologies. This is essential if we are to transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The report identifies renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower as being crucial to achieving this goal. It also highlights the need for energy efficiency measures and the development of new technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Another key finding of the report is the impact of climate change on biodiversity. The report warns that we are facing a mass extinction event, with up to one million species at risk of extinction due to climate change. This is a particularly urgent concern for the world's oceans, which are already suffering from rising temperatures and acidification. The report highlights the need for urgent action to protect and conserve biodiversity, including the development of protected areas and sustainable management practices.

The IPCC report also draws attention to the need for climate justice. It highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, particularly those in developing countries. These communities often lack the resources to adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise and more frequent and severe weather events. The report calls for greater support for these communities and for measures to address the root causes of climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

While the report paints a stark picture of the challenges we face in addressing climate change, it also provides a roadmap for action. It identifies a range of measures that can be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, and support vulnerable communities. These include:

•Investing in clean energy technologies and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels

•Developing energy efficiency measures and carbon capture and storage technologies

•Protecting and conserving biodiversity through the development of protected areas and sustainable management practices

•Supporting vulnerable communities through measures such as climate finance and adaptation planning

•Addressing the root causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Overall, the IPCC report underscores the urgent need for action on climate change. It highlights the devastating impacts of a rapidly warming planet, but also identifies a clear path forward. The report shows that if we act now, we can still secure a livable and sustainable future for all. It is up to governments, businesses, and individuals to take action and make the changes necessary to address this global challenge.

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Mari Laane

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