The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its Climate Report ‘Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’ this March— the second part of its Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022. The report indicates that the world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C. Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements.

It provides new scientific evidence on climate risk and solutions making a case for ambitious adaptation actions. It provides a gloomy reminder that the world is facing imminent, large scale and irreversible climate risks. It makes it clear that the global community has a huge responsibility and must go further and faster to adapt to the impacts of climate change and address the vulnerabilities. The poor and the marginalized are bearing the costs of inaction or limited action and this is an injustice to humanity. The report highlights that promises to date have not been met and the urgency is not realized to bring transformative action at scale to respond to the climate emergency. The strength of this WG 2 report lies in providing evidence with higher confidence levels for different types of risks associated with various regions and sectors (health, food and infrastructure etc.) under various climate scenarios (1.5°C, 2°C, 4°C). Compared to the previous assessment in 2014, this report clearly establishes the fact that the risk transitions are going to be high to very high level even at lower global warming levels, which is a serious matter of concern.

Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com