The Role of the IPCC and Global Efforts to Tackle Climate Change

 The Role of the IPCC and Global Efforts to Tackle Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a scientific body created by the United Nations, has been at the forefront of assessing the science of climate change since 1988. It was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide authoritative scientific reports on climate change. The UK government fully supports the work of the IPCC, recognizing its reports as the most credible and comprehensive views on the current state of climate science.

How the IPCC Works

The IPCC’s reports are created through an extensive, transparent, and rigorous process. These assessments are reviewed by scientific experts and governments worldwide before they are finalized and published. The 195 member countries, including the UK, play an integral role in the development of the reports by agreeing on the scope, nominating experts, and reviewing findings. This collaborative process ensures that the IPCC’s assessments remain reliable and unbiased.

The Influence of the IPCC’s Assessments

The findings from the IPCC have had a profound impact on international climate policy:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): IPCC assessments helped shape the creation of this treaty, which serves as the foundation for global efforts to address climate change.

• Kyoto Protocol: The IPCC’s work also informed the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

• Paris Agreement: The IPCC's assessments were central to the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015. The agreement’s goal is to limit the rise in global temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. Achieving these temperature goals requires global reductions in carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by the 2050s for a 1.5°C limit and by the 2070s for a 2°C limit.

• Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26): The IPCC’s findings also underpin the Glasgow Climate Pact, which further emphasizes the need for urgent and sustained action to mitigate climate change.

The 1.5°C Goal and Its Importance

The IPCC’s 2018 Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C highlighted the drastic difference that limiting global warming to 1.5°C instead of 2°C could make. Even a fraction of a degree can significantly reduce the severity of climate change impacts. With each degree of warming, the risks of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, and other irreversible impacts increase. This makes the 1.5°C goal not just a number but a crucial target for safeguarding our planet’s future.

The Urgent Need for Mitigation and Adaptation

To limit global warming, the world needs to take deep and sustained actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes:

• Mitigation: Efforts to cut emissions from all sectors, including energy, transport, and agriculture, are essential to limit temperature rise. Achieving net zero emissions by mid-century is a key step in this effort.

• Adaptation: Adaptation refers to actions taken to cope with the impacts of climate change that are already occurring and are likely to intensify. Adaptation strategies include building resilient infrastructure, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and preparing for extreme weather events.

Taking action on both mitigation and adaptation not only reduces climate risks but also creates numerous co-benefits. For example, cutting methane emissions not only slows near-term warming but also improves air quality, benefiting public health. Furthermore, transitioning to greener practices can drive innovation, boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and reduce biodiversity loss.

Pooja Mattapalli