Lclimate change caused by human activity affects “billions of people” and those who are “least able to protect themselves are the hardest hit”, say the scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. climate (IPCC) in a new report published Monday, February 28. “This report is a grim warning of the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, president of the IPCC, as observers lament that the publication comes at a time when all eyes are on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. The document also focuses on the means of adaptation available to humanity, in particular the preservation of nature. It follows on from the publication, in August 2021, of the first part of this sixth round of assessment, focused on the factual study of climate change.
“There are options for adapting to climate change,” say the authors, saying that an unprecedented leap forward in nature conservation and consolidation is the “key to a viable future.” “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient and provide vital services such as food and clean water,” says co-chair of the IPCC working group behind the report, Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably preserving 30 to 50% of space on Earth, society can benefit from nature’s ability to absorb and store carbon”, he adds, believing that “supports political and financial are essential” in this process. Aware of the social issues, scientists are calling for the generalization of “climate resilient” development, that is to say a form of human progress that always respects nature.
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Beware of “mal-adaptation”
“Our report clearly shows that, to meet all these challenges, everyone must get involved: governments, the private sector, civil society”, insists Debra Robert, also co-chair of the working group. “With this in mind, different interests, values and worldviews can be reconciled,” she hopes. “Any further delay in taking concerted global action will cause us to miss the brief, rapidly closing window of time during which we can still secure a viable future,” adds Hans-Otto Pörtner. Developed by 270 researchers from 67 countries on behalf of 195 Member States, the report also warns against “mal-adaptation”, that is to say measures that would have counter-productive impacts.
Since the pre-industrial era, the planet has already warmed on average about 1.1°C. The first part of the report, published in August, estimated that the mercury would reach around 2030 – ten years earlier than expected – the threshold of + 1.5°C. The third opus is to be published in April: it will focus on solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in particular CO2, but also methane, whose effect is 80 times greater but the lifespan is much shorter. On the diplomatic side, government representatives are due to meet in November 2022 for COP27 in Egypt.
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