Global warming: "It's now or never," warns IPCC

CLIMATIC CHANGE

By  YEET MAGAZINE | August 9, 2021, 6:09 AM

Global warming: "It's now or never," warns IPCC

"There is no time to waste or excuses to find," warns UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Foreground of a firefighter and a huge forest blaze in the background, in Sydney, Australia.

If we don't reverse the trend, rising temperatures will lead to more extreme weather events like forest fires, warns the IPCC in its most recent report.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) urges policymakers to take immediate action to limit the consequences of climate change. If so, the consequences of this warming could span centuries, even millennia, he said in his most recent report released on Monday.

According to the IPCC scenarios, the consequences of a global warming of 2 degrees - which will probably be reached before the end of the century -, will lead to extreme climatic events, such as higher precipitation in certain places, floods, drought of soils. increased in others, forest fires and tropical cyclones.

In optimistic scenarios, that is, those where GHG emissions are low or very low, the temperature rise should not exceed 1.5 degrees.

12 color maps that represent the magnitude of climate change in North America.

Maps showing the changes in temperature and precipitation of North America, according to the severity of climate change.

Photo: IPCC

However, if nothing is done, global warming could exceed 4 degrees by the end of the century and cause irreversible consequences that will affect in particular [the] communities and [the] nations that are the poorest and most vulnerable then. that they are the least responsible for the current climate emergency, according to the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres.

Major climate polluters in the hot seat

To limit human-induced global warming, we should also drastically limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, says the organization.

And even if you do, the cumulative effects of past and future emissions on the climate will be felt for 20 or 30 years, until the Earth's temperature stabilizes, but the effects on air quality would be. noticeable in the next few years, and would be cumulative.

Antonio Guterres is standing behind a microphone.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls on large emitters to achieve carbon neutrality. Photo: AP / Paul White

Mr. Guterres thus calls on all nations, in particular the G20 and other major [GHG] emitters to aim for net zero emissions and strengthen their commitments in view of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow, next November.

For IPCC experts, climate change will largely depend on government actions taken in the short and medium term.

Some examples of the consequences of global warming

In northern parts of Canada, the projected temperature rise is really large, compared to the global average, and especially in winter. According to the IPCC, the increase in snowfall would be much greater in January and February.

But in southern Canada, the IPCC is currently observing an increase in forest fires, and it predicts that the phenomenon will be more frequent in the coming years, especially if the temperature warms above 2 degrees Celsius. Extreme precipitation would possibly be more frequent, predicts the IPCC, and flooding in summer and heavy snowfall in winter would be likely.

A red alarm for humanity

While simulations carried out by the IPCC show that the consequences of climate change will be severe and will have effects all over the planet, it is still possible to avoid the point of no return, he argues.

If we join forces now, we can prevent a climate catastrophe. But, as today's report makes clear, there is no time to waste or excuses to find, says Antonio Guterres.

The solutions are clear. Green and inclusive economies, prosperity, cleaner air and better health are possible for all if we respond to this crisis with solidarity and courage.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General

This sixth assessment report of the IPCC is thus