As a new scientific report warned of a “climate time bomb,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged wealthier nations on Monday to cut emissions.
“The temperature spike in the previous half century is the biggest in 2,000 years,” he stated. “Carbon dioxide levels are at least 2 million years high. Climate time-bomb.”
Guterres called the IPCC’s sixth “synthesis report” “a survival roadmap for mankind” and urged industrialized nations to attain net zero emissions by 2040.
The synthesis study summarized three expert evaluations of climate change’s physical science, consequences, and mitigation from 2021–2022. Finally, the summary report helps policymakers decide how to cut emissions.
“We have the means to stave off and lessen the worst consequences of the climate catastrophe, but we must take advantage of this time to act now,” said U.S. climate envoy John Kerry.
After a week in Interlaken, Switzerland, the 37-page report was compiled from thousands of earlier assessments.
This year’s global climate change “stocktake” will use the paper to gauge progress. Nations must revise their promises by 2025 under the 2015 Paris Accord.
The IPCC recommends halving emissions by the mid-2030s to prevent global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) beyond pre-industrial levels, a major Paris deal goal.
“If we act now, we can still assure a liveable sustainable future for everybody,” stated IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.
Even if promises are honored, the earth will warm by 3.2C by the century’s end.
Average temperatures are 1.1C higher than 1850-1900, causing more severe weather globally.
“We’re up the proverbial creek,” said synthesis report co-author Frank Jotzo of Australian National University.
According to observers, finance, climate change projections, “equity,” and climate justice for poorer nations were the main points of dispute.
Several nations sought to highlight solar power or carbon capture as their preferred climate solutions.
If the world wants to decrease emissions, the IPCC believes it must expedite the transition to renewable energy and change agriculture and eating habits.
More intense weather, increasing sea levels, melting Arctic ice, and catastrophic “tipping points” were all predicted. They also warned roughly half the world’s population was susceptible to climate change.
“In sum, our world requires climate action on all fronts—everything, everywhere, all at once,” Guterres stated.
Comment Template