The threat of climate change looming large over humanity, warns IPCC

INCHEON, Republic of Korea:  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on October 8, 2018 issued a special report on the impacts of Global Warming of 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels. The special report prepared by IPCC talked about limiting the global warming to 1.5˚C as oppose to the 2°C that was an assumed guardrail for a climate safe world according to the scientific research presented before.
The new assessment presented by the IPCC said that limiting global warming to 1.5˚C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.

“With more than 6,000 scientific references cited and the dedicated contribution of thousands of experts and government reviewers worldwide, this important report testifies to the breadth and policy relevance of the IPCC,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC.

Valerie Masson-Delmotte, Co-Chair of Working Group I said, “the IPCC report is an outcome of 91 lead dedicated authors and editors from 40 countries, with inputs of 133 contributing authors and as part of new synthesis of knowledge the authors accessed more than 6,000 scientific publications.”

The report highlighted a number of global climatic effects that could be avoided by limiting the global warming to 1.5˚C. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C.

Coral reefs would only be declined by 70 to 90 per cent with global warming level limited to 1.5˚C, whereas around 99 per cent will be lost with 2°C. There will be lower impact on biodiversity and species. Limiting global warming to only 1.5 degrees will also mean in smaller reduction in yields of maze, rice, wheat etc.

The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C.

“Every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming of 1.5˚C or higher, increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.

The report said that limiting global warming to 1.5˚C will also effect the fisheries and the livelihood of people dependent on them. It also indicated that up to several hundred million fewer people will be exposed to climate-related risk and susceptible to poverty by 2050.

The report also suggested that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in industry, transport, energy sector, cities etc.

It also mentioned  that global net carbon dioxide emissions would need to fall by about 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, which would result in reaching ‘net-zero’ around 2050, as opposed to most of the pathways that suggested to limit the fall of carbon dioxide by about 20 per cent, which would reach ‘net-zero’ by 2075. Achieving such results means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO₂ from the air. Reducing non-CO₂ emissions with this would also have direct and immediate health benefits.

“Limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared with 2°C would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being, making it easier to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Priyardarshi Shukla, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III.