New IPCC report, 6 points to understand the alarming report

1- The most vulnerable people on this planet are the most subject to the effects of climate change.

Cities, communities with low income will be the most impacted by extreme climatic events, fires, droughts and floods, driving instability in these areas affecting social, economic and food security.

For Africa around 30% of all the maize growing areas will go out of production, for beans it's around 50% on the current emissions trajectory," said Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation

2- yet a global change

Global warming and the carbon emissions impact can now be fully observed, they are generalised and threaten our ecosystems. Around 3,3 billion human beings will be exposed to this changing climate. "40% of the world's population is now highly vulnerable the report says".

3- The importance of staying under +1.5°C.

According to scientists, maintaining our planet's warming under +1.5°C is crucial as it would greatly reduce the loss and damages. In the short term, increasing climatic risks for ecosystems and humans is expected but can be mitigated by short term management solutions. However, it will not prevent everything. In the long term, If drastic measures aren't taken, the warming could reach +3°C which would lead to irreversible change and the loss of most of our ecosystems.

4- Is technology the key?

According to scientists, new technology used to prevent warming such as carbon sucking machines (described in an earlier post) present limitations.

"If you remove CO2 from the atmosphere, you'll get a rebound effect from the others in the carbon cycle," said Linda Schneider from the Heinrich Böll Foundation, who was an observer at the IPCC discussions. According to them, cutting the sources is the most efficient way to prevent such emissions.

5- what are the solutions

According to scientists, drastic measures touching every sector are required, social inequalities, environmental policies and rethinking our consumption behavior are key in this change. Otherwise, adaptation will not be possible. It must concern public and private entities and social enterprises. We would all benefit from this change.

6- Our window for change is closing very fast

. In the last sentence of the report, the opportunity for action will only last for the rest of this decade, "Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future."

If the world can cut emissions drastically and significantly boost spending on adaptation, that could avoid locking in certain disasters.

And it's not just about spending on green energy and electric cars. The authors say that investing in education, health systems and social justice could help people to cope with the impacts of rising temperatures.

Investing in nature will also be a bulwark against the worst, says the IPCC, which calls for 30-50% of the world to be conserved.

sources

BBC, IPCC report, Hugoclément, Bon pote, Vert le média

"nature can be our saviour, but only if we save it first" Inger Anderson head of the UN environmental program

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