“Coal and other fossil fuels are choking humanity" said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations at the launch of the press conference to launch #IPCC’s latest #ClimateReport , #ClimateChange 2022: Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability.

Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risk, said a press release by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC latest report 2022: Impacts , Adaptation and Vulnerability is released today. People and ecosystems that are least able to cope have been hit the hardest, scientists have observed in the report.

“This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,â€_x009d_ said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC. “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks,â€_x009d_ he added.

As per the press release, here are some key highlights:

1. Urgent action required to deal with increasing risks

Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals. These weather extremes are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage. 

To avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, ambitious, accelerated action is required to adapt to climate change, at the same time as making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, said the release.

2. Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future

Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development.

“Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,â€_x009d_ said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. 

3. Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution

This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise.

 â€œTogether, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,â€_x009d_ Debra Roberts said.

4. A narrowing window for action

The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. 

“The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,â€_x009d_ said Hans-Otto Pörtner.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide political leaders with periodic scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies. In the same year the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by the WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC. It has 195 member states.

"Climate change isn't lurking around the corner ready to pounce. It's already upon us, raining down blows on millions of people" - said UNEP Executive Director, Andersen Inger summarising the need to assess and adapt to the climate crisis.

(Banner image credits: @IPCC_CH/ Twitter)