There was no denying that the IPCC’s latest report contained some good news. But its findings also contain solutions – and hope
The latest reportThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), was not the mood lifter that we needed as the war in Ukraine raged. It was never going to be. The previous IPCC report – released last August – was described by the UN as a ‘code red for humanity’. The tone of the follow-up report was unlikely to change.
And it doesn’t. It concludes that climate change caused by humans is already causing widespread and dangerous disruptions in nature and affecting billions of people’s lives. What’s more, communities and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit. These impacts will only increase if there is no immediate action, according to the IPCC.
“This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, chair of the IPCC. “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.”
The IPCC emphasized the need to take ambitious, fast-tracked action to adapt to a dangerous climate and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Half measures are no longer an option,” said Lee.
The report does not contain new science. It is based on an analysis of approximately 34,000 scientific papers. One reason to be optimistic is that it was approved by 195 countries. This may indicate that politicians are more likely to follow its recommendations.
There are also other glimmers that offer hope. The report stresses nature’s potential to reduce climate risks and improve people’s lives. Its authors said that restoring ecosystems and conserving at least a third of the planet’s land and oceans would help absorb huge quantities of carbon and boost wellbeing.
Coral reefs are especially vulnerable but can be part of the solution. Image: Hiroko Yoshii
“By restoring degraded ecosystems, and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, co-chair of the IPCC working group II.
There have been some improvements in this area. In May, a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed that an area of land greater than the size of Russia has fallen under some sort of protection in the last decade. Not all of that land is adequately protected, said the IUCN, but it’s a start.
Meanwhile, the IPCC report highlights the potential of cities to develop solutions to the climate crisis.
“Together, growing urbanisation and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” said IPCC working group II co-chair Debra Roberts.
“But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.”
Cities were part of the problem but now offer solutions. Image: Zac Wolff
As a possible solution, indigenous knowledge is also promoted. It is proven that granting indigenous communities legal title of their land is more effective at protecting forests then declaring them national parks.
“Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritise risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said Roberts.
“By bringing together scientific and technological know-how, as well as indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a sub-optimal future for people and nature.”
Main image: Jailam Rahhad
