FINAL WARNING Decades of climate talks have not made a dent in carbon emissions
TROPICAL CYCLONES Warmer waters turn storm systems extreme and unpredictable
GRAIN SIZE Days with extreme heat, rain shrink the size of seeds across India
FINAL WARNING
WORK WITH HASTE
Actions so far have not effectively alleviated climate impacts, says IPCC. Focus now on rapidly cutting emissions
AVANTIKA GOSWAMI AND ROHINI KRISHNAMURTHY, NEW DELHI
HE WINDOW of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future is rapidly closing, warns the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Synthesis Report released on March 20. Being a summary of the findings of six reports released during IPCC's Sixth Assessment Cycle in 2018-22, the latest document does not provide any new data, but effectively manages to highlight the delay and deception tactics used by industry and governments to cover up inaction.
The Synthesis Report reiterates that excess emissions from human activities have raised the global temperature by 1.1°C above the 1850-1900 level. While stabilising the climate requires strong, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, current policy action will lead to further temperature rise (see 'Drastic measures needed', p18). The report states Nationally Determined Contributions announced by countries till October 2021 make it likely that warming will exceed 1.5°C during the 21st century, and it will be difficult to stay below a 2°C threshold.
This story is from the April 01, 2023 edition of Down To Earth.
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This story is from the April 01, 2023 edition of Down To Earth.
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