The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II report, Climate Change 2022:
Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was recently released. The report finds that human-induced climate change is causing disruption to nature and the lives of billions of people despite recent efforts.
The report warns that urgent action is required to deal with the increasing risks as increased weather events are exceeding the tolerances and causing mass mortalities in trees and corals. The weather extremes are causing cascading impacts and are increasingly difficult to manage.
“Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. A high proportion of species is vulnerable to climate change. Human and ecosystem vulnerability are interdependent. Current unsustainable development patterns are increasing exposure of ecosystems and people to climate hazards.“
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – SPM.B.2
The urgent actions required include rapid, deep cuts to greenhouse emissions and embracing the options to adapt to a changing climate by restoring degraded ecosystems and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of the Earth’s land, freshwater, and oceans. A narrowing window for action requires greater planning, attention to equity and justice whilst bringing together the scientific and technological know-how and indigenous and local knowledge to create solutions.
“Climate resilient development is facilitated by international cooperation and by governments at all levels working with communities, civil society, educational bodies, scientific and other institutions, media, investors and businesses; and by developing partnerships with traditionally marginalised groups, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and ethnic minorities. These partnerships are most effective when supported by enabling political leadership, institutions, resources, including finance, as well as climate services, information and decision support tools”
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – SPM.D.2.
Cities are hotspots for climate impacts and risks. Cities are being impacted by heat, storms, flooding, drought and the slow onset of sea-level rise. They also provide opportunities to take climate action through green buildings, reliable water sources, renewable energy, and sustainable transport to connect urban and rural areas leading to a more inclusive and fairer society.
“Integrated, inclusive planning and investment in everyday decision-making about urban infrastructure, including social, ecological and grey/physical infrastructures, can significantly increase the adaptive capacity of urban and rural settlements…….Climate resilient development in urban areas also supports adaptive capacity in more rural places through maintaining peri-urban supply chains of goods and services and financial flows. Coastal cities and settlements play an especially important role in advancing climate resilient development.”
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – SPM.D.3.
Read the full report at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/
