Research Briefing | Apr 3, 2023

The IPCC Synthesis report – humanity in the hot seat

The IPCC’s synthesis report updates the latest science on climate change. The message is familiar: unless emissions are cut rapidly and deeply, adverse climate impacts will intensify. But the message is now more urgent. Warming is already 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels and the likelihood of the Paris limit of 1.5 degrees being breached before 2040 looks ever more probable even in low-emission scenarios. We’re fighting for every increment.

What you will learn:

  • The report focuses on humanity’s role and responsibilities. We can now say with certainty that human influence has directly led to climate change, which raises our accountability. The report also notes the most vulnerable to climate change are the least to blame, and vulnerability can be exacerbated by marginalisation. So solutions must be inclusive to ensure climate policies are sustainable – no one should be left behind.
  • We have many of the tools we need to reduce emissions and raise adaptive capacity. For example, the costs of key mitigation technologies like solar, wind, and batteries have fallen since 2010, and there have been advancements in adaptation planning and implementation.
  • The world can benefit from swifter climate action as it helps reduce losses and damage, and ultimately means lower adaptation and mitigation costs down the line.
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