Nell Salvoni
The worst effects of global warming are inevitable, according to a United Nations (UN) report, if climate action is not taken now.
A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published on 9th August 2021, has been labelled “a ‘Code Red’ for humanity” by Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres.
The first major report into climate change since 2013, concludes that global warming over the next 30 years is now unpreventable, citing the “unequivocal” impact of humans on the environment as the cause.
Another key finding by the IPCC is that the last 50 years have seen a faster global surface temperature rise than any other comparable period in the last 2,000 years.
The IPCC warns that temperatures on Earth will rise by about 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next twenty years, along with the potential for a near 2 metre rise in sea levels by the end of the century.
What can be done?
While the report’s forecast is dire, it also urges swift and coordinated action to be taken by all countries if the very worst effects of climate change are to be prevented.
The report highlights that if we can successfully become carbon neutral by 2050, and even remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the temperature rise can level off at 1.5 degrees celsius. This would prevent the increasingly worse effects which would come with every incremental rise.
Diann Black-Layne, Lead Climate Negotiator for The Alliance Of Small Island States, has highlighted that people living on island states are particularly vulnerable to global warming and its impact on rising sea levels.
“If we keep warming to 1.5 degrees celsius, we are still facing half a metre of sea level rise. But if we stop warming from reaching 2 degrees celsius, we can avoid a long-term 3 metres of sea level rise. That is our very future, right there.”
The report is under no illusions that the odds of achieving this, and the time scale in which it will need to be achieved, are very slim. Guterres, among other leaders, has called for immediate action “to keep the 1.5 degree celsius target alive” and prevent even more damaging levels of warming.
The climate crisis is now
The IPCC report also highlights that severe effects of climate change are already underway and are affecting every part of the inhabited world. This has been reflected by the dangerously high temperatures, wildfires and flooding which has been happening across the world in recent months.
“The planet is on fire, and our hair should be on fire about this! We need to move faster to deploy, deploy, deploy clean energy and make our communities more resilient.”
Parts of Greece are currently experiencing their hottest recorded temperatures in 30 years, contributing to huge blazes in the region. Fires have also recently ravaged parts of Turkey, Italy and California, where the so-called ‘Dixie Fire’ has been named as the largest single blaze in the state’s recorded history.
In light of both the fires and the UN’s report, the United States Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm tweeted “The planet is on fire, and our hair should be on fire about this! We need to move faster to deploy, deploy, deploy clean energy and make our communities more resilient.”
Reactions to the report
Leaders around the world have also put out responses to the report calling for the promotion of green energy sources and the end of fossil fuels. These include US President Joe Biden and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who commented; “We know what must be done to limit global warming – consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline.”
However, the Green Party Deputy Leader Amelia Womack has accused the UK government of “lingering behind its warm words”, and has warned that responses to the report need to “mind the gap between warm words and actions”.
“The world listened but it didn’t act strongly enough. Nobody is safe and [global warming] is getting worse faster.”
Inger Andersen, the Head of the UN’s Environment Programme has highlighted that while steps have been taken, not enough has been done; “The world listened but it didn’t act strongly enough. Nobody is safe and it is getting worse faster.”
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has also criticised a lack of action globally, tweeting that this report is just the start and that “It is up to us to be brave and take decisions based on the scientific evidence provided in these reports.”
With the COP26 being hosted in the UK this November, the stark warnings from the IPCC and campaigners will be ringing in the ears of people, corporations and governments across the world.
If you want to take action, The Grantham Institute has outlined 9 steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint here.
Featured image courtesy of Markus Spiske via Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
Nell Salvoni
Nell is 21 and from Cornwall. She is Empoword’s Current Affairs Editor, a first class University of Warwick History graduate, and has a keen interest in social justice and global news stories.