IPCC Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment

Context:

Recently, Highlighting the need for urgent climate action, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Cycle in Interlaken, Switzerland.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Highlights of the Report:
2. Implications and Recommendations from IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report Synthesis for India

Highlights of the Report:

The Synthesis Report of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report is a compilation of the main findings from three Working Groups (WGs):

1. Physical Science Basis of Climate Change (WG I)
2. Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (WG II)
3. Mitigation (WG III)

The report highlights the following key points:

• Urgent action needed: The report emphasises the need for effective and equitable action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change for a “liveable sustainable future for all.”
• Temperature rise: The report notes that despite warnings in 2018, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, resulting in a global surface temperature rise of 1.1°C over pre-industrial levels. The report highlights the urgency of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C from pre-industrial levels set by the Paris Agreement.
• Impact of temperature rise: The report states that the rise in temperature has led to extreme and/or unpredictable weather events, making people more susceptible to food insecurity and water shortages. Vulnerable populations disproportionately face the brunt of climate change.
• Economic loss and damages: The report highlights the economic losses and damages caused by climate change and stresses the need for financial resolution for a more equitable world.

Implications and Recommendations from IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report Synthesis for India

• Climate resilient development: The report suggests that climate resilient development can mitigate the effects of climate change while providing wider benefits such as access to clean energy, improving air quality, increasing employment opportunities, boosting healthcare through technology, and delivering equity. India should focus on development that is both climate resilient and sustainable.
• Financial investments: The report emphasises the role of financial investments in achieving climate goals and encourages public funding through central banks, government and financial regulators to reduce emissions, scale up climate resilience, and protect marginalised communities.
• Minimise loss and damage: India’s priority should be to minimise loss and damage in terms of lives, livelihood, and biodiversity and accelerate equitable action and adaptation.
• Lower per-capita emissions: India can lower its per-capita emissions through energy efficiency policies that are already being implemented in almost every sector.
• Decarbonisation of energy sector: India can also decarbonise its energy sector by using cleaner options like solar and renewable energy.

Source: The Hindu