Context:
A recent study examined over 500 future emissions scenarios assessed by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), providing insights into the world’s climate trajectory. The study’s findings highlight substantial inequities within the projected pathways of climate action outlined in the IPCC reports.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About the IPCC
- The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and Beyond
About the IPCC
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.
- IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
- IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate related policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- IPCC does not carry out original research. It does not monitor climate or related phenomena itself. However, it conducts a systematic review of published literature and then produces a comprehensive assessment report.
IPCC Assessment Reports
- The IPCC Assessment Reports are published once in about 7 years – and they are the most comprehensive scientific evaluations of the state of Earth’s climate. The 6th such assessment report was published in 2021.
- Prior to the AR6 in 2021, five assessment reports have been produced with the first one being released in 1990. The fifth assessment report had come out in 2014 in the run up to the climate change conference in Paris.
- The Assessment Reports are prepared by three working groups of scientists:
- Working Group-I – Deals with the scientific basis for climate change.
- Working Group-II – Looks at the likely impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation issues.
- Working Group-III – Deals with actions that can be taken to combat climate change.
Findings of the New Study:
- Troubling Projections: Analysis of 556 scenarios from the IPCC’s AR6 report reveals concerning projections. By 2050, regions encompassing 60% of the world’s population, including Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, will still have below-average per-capita GDP.
- Disparities in Consumption: Similar disparities exist in consumption patterns of goods, energy, and fossil fuels between the Global North and South.
- Carbon Burden on Developing Nations: Developing nations are projected to bear a heavier burden in terms of carbon sequestration and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, unfairly placing the responsibility for mitigation and carbon dioxide removal on poorer countries.
- Critique of Scenarios: The study criticizes scenarios for ignoring historical responsibility and failing to address the energy needs of the Global South for achieving development goals, highlighting significant inequities in projected climate action pathways.
Importance of Equality in Tackling Climate Change:
- Historical Responsibility: Wealthier nations, primarily in the Global North, have historically contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating recognition of historical responsibility in addressing climate change fairly.
- Vulnerability of Developing Countries: Developing countries, least responsible for emissions, are the most vulnerable to climate impacts due to limited resources and infrastructure, underscoring the importance of equity in climate action.
- Access to Resources: Equity ensures equitable access to climate funding, technology transfer, and capacity-building support, addressing disparities in financial resources, technological capabilities, and infrastructure between developed and developing nations.
- Social Injustices: Climate change exacerbates social inequalities, necessitating climate policies and measures that benefit vulnerable communities and address existing injustices.
- Global Cooperation: Equity principles, such as common but differentiated responsibilities, foster global cooperation and collaboration among nations to work towards shared climate goals.
- Trust and Collaboration: Ensuring equity in climate action builds trust and fosters collaboration among nations, facilitating meaningful progress in addressing climate change.
-Source: The Hindu
