Now or Never: IPCC’s Report on Climate Change Mitigation Pushes for Halving Emissions by 2030; Here’s What It Says! – EQ Mag Pro

“The latest IPCC (United Nation’s IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report is a litany of broken climate promises. Some government and business leaders are saying one thing but doing another. They are lying.

It is time to stop burning our planet,” these were the strong words with which UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the latest IPCC report on climate change mitigation.

The IPCC consistently produces reports explaining the science, impacts, vulnerabilities, adaptation and mitigation options and more to tackle the climate crisis. Under the current cycle of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the first comprehensive report was released in August 2021 and assessed the main driving factors of rising temperatures, while the second was published in February 2022 on impacts and adaptation.

This week, IPCC released yet another report titled Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of climate change, elucidating the dire need to focus on solutions to cut emissions. Fortunately, the insights clearly indicate that humanity still has some crucial time left to amplify efforts and slow down the Earth’s warming – it’s a now or never situation!

“We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming,” said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.

Halve emissions by 2030

The Earth has already warmed by 1.1ºC above the pre-industrial levels. As this relentless warming continues, the planet will witness frequent and intense extreme weather events, devastating the lives of billions of people across the globe. Climate scientists have highlighted the fact that in order to limit global temperatures to under 1.5ºC this century, the emission must halve in this decade.

Moreover, the target to reach net zero by 2050 has been agreed upon by several nations at the COP26 summit held in November 2021. And this can be achieved by following a set timeline for the entire world. The global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and then drop by at least 43% by 2030, as per the IPCC report. Besides, the potent methane would need to be reduced by about a third at the global level.

On a positive note, the report also highlights that the world has made some progress in slashing emissions over the last ten years. The IPCC report notes that during 2010-2019, the average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were recorded to be the highest in human history but also showcased a slow growth rate. Greenhouse gas emissions slowed to 1.3% per year in the 2010s, while it was 2.1% in the 2000s.

How can emission targets be achieved?

Achieving these targets is possible, and we have a small window to prevent global average temperatures from breaching the 1.5°C limits. This could be achieved by “immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors” – be it agriculture or the infrastructure.

“Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential,” said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Priyadarshi Shukla.

To avoid irrevocable changes, a major transition to clean energy resources is required and significantly cutting down fossil fuel use. The use of alternative fuels, like hydrogen, has been much recommended by experts. The world is gradually heading towards better use of solar and wind energy. The report notes an 85% decrease in solar and wind energy and batteries costs since 2010. With the growing demand, policies and laws have come into place to enhance energy efficiency.

In fact, each and every sector can contribute massively to adopting this transition for a better future for the planet and its inhabitants. For instance, industries can work towards adopting models that sustainably use all sorts of materials via reusing and recycling products. On the other hand, experts are already working to bring into action low- to zero-greenhouse gas production processes for basic materials, like steel.

The report also looks into various other changes that we can adopt at the societal level to reduce emissions, for instance, closing investment gaps.

“Without taking into account the economic benefits of reduced adaptation costs or avoided climate impacts, global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be just a few percentage points lower in 2050 if we take the actions necessary to limit warming to 2°C (3.6°F) or below, compared to maintaining current policies,” said Shukla.

At the same time, it is also pivotal to achieve sustainable development goals. At the regional level, cities can play a key role in the mitigation efforts by lower energy consumption and electrification of transport with low-emission energy sources. Zero-carbon buildings are the next big solution in the race to achieve net-zero by 2050.

On the other hand, the report also recommends several low-hanging fruits, including reducing concrete space, developing more parks, planting trees, and restoring wetlands, to name a few. All these steps will eventually help us secure a liveable future.

In addition to the supply side reductions, the IPCC report also highlights the importance of behavioural and lifestyle changes. It also highlights that such demand-side mitigation responses can also yield the co-benefits of improved well-being for all.

Source: IANS