Part Three of Sixth Assessment Report: IPCC
Recently the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has published the third part of its sixth assessment report.
- The report provides an updated global assessment of progress and commitments made by countries in tackling climate change. Also, it examines the sources of global emissions.
- Scientific assessment on the climatic conditions of the earth has been widely accepted in this assessment report.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- The IPCC is a United Nations body for scientific assessment of climate change.
- Its purpose is to provide scientific information to all levels of government, so that they can use it to develop climate-related policies.
- It was formed in the year 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Highlights of key findings of this report-
- Emission Trends: To limit global warming to 1.5 °C by the year 2100, the following would be required. The maximum level of greenhouse gases (SHGS) emitted by the world will have to be capped by the year 2025. Also, it will have to be cut by 43% in the next 5 years (Year 2025-2030). Greenhouse gas emissions were 54% higher in 2019 than in 1990. However, the rate of increase in emissions is slowing down.
- Carbon inequality: Carbon inequality is increasing as usual. In 2019, the total emissions of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) accounted for only 3.3% of the global emissions.
- Carbon Capture: If global warming is to be limited to 1.5 Celsius, coal-fired power plants running without Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology must be shut down by the year 2050.
- Paris Agreement: The commitments made under the Paris Agreement are inadequate. GHGS emissions will have to be cut by 43% by 2030 as compared to 2019.
- Demand-side mitigation: Changes in our lifestyle and behavior can reduce GHGs emissions by 40-70% by the year 2050. It requires proper policies, infrastructure and technologies.
Source- The Hindu
