How can your town respond to the IPCC report?
“There’s no going back from some changes in the climate system…
…however, some changes could be slowed, and others could be stopped by limiting warming.”
Emma Boucher
On 9th August 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the first of four parts of its 6th Assessment Report, The Physical Science Basis. This evidence-based assessment provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of how our climate has and continues to change. It clearly states that climate change is here and getting worse, posing an immediate threat.
The report highlights the urgent need for governments, businesses and communities to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions as well as to prepare for the climate change impacts that we have already locked in.
The latest IPCC Report: The Physical Science Basis
The report represents the latest physical understanding of the climate system and climate change. It provides some very clear evidence on the changes that we are already experiencing and the possible futures. Some of the key messages include:
Human influence has unequivocally altered the environment at an “unprecedented” rate, and despite government’s action plans its impact is being felt globally.
The rate of sea level rise, retreat of ice sheets and glaciers, and the acidity of the oceans are described as “unprecedented” in the past several thousand years.
The warming experienced to date has resulted in irreversible changes to many global support systems (e.g. the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface and the biosphere).
Without immediate change, the temperature limit of 1.5°C warming from pre-industrial levels will “more likely than not” be broken by 2040, moving us closer to an irreversible climate tipping point.
Yet all hope is not lost. Scientists believe we already have all the tools we need to avoid the catastrophic impacts of runaway climate change, but this relies on the implementation of solutions accelerating faster than the climate impacts. The decisions we make now will decide the climate we will experience in the future.
IPCC Outreach materials, Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/outreach/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Press_Conference_Slides.pdf
“The climate we experience in the future depends on our decisions now”
The urgency for towns to take climate action
Pressure to manage climate risks and commit to drastic emissions reductions will magnify as we move closer to the next climate “tipping point”. Taking action now is key to minimising future impacts and preparing for the impacts already realised and future impacts.
Many towns have already declared climate emergencies and guidance to support their journeys to low carbon and climate resilient towns can be found in the resources section below. Focus should be given both to reducing emissions as well as to enhancing climate resilience.
The implementation of actions to reduce emissions needs to be accelerated. Solutions can range from design of low carbon green buildings, to active and green infrastructure to supporting for the transition to electric vehicle. Guidance to implement these actions can be found in the resources section below.
Reducing emissions is not enough. Designing climate resilient buildings and infrastructure is critical to prepare for the increasing impacts of climate change in towns.
The recently published UK Climate change risk assessment (UK CCRA) identifies eight priority risks areas for the UK and concludes that the UK is failing to plan for the impact of climate change.
For towns and cities, understanding the complex implications of the eight priority risks can be a challenge. The sector briefings provided by UK CCRA help to break down the critical issues (e.g., for housing, transport, etc.) in an accessible and targeted way, providing simple recommendations for opportunity action that should be taken in the next two years (e.g. natural flood management approaches to reduce flood risk or use of passive cooling to reduce summer energy demand).
What’s next?
The remaining chapters of the IPCC’s 6th assessment report, including detailed assessment of how the world can adapt to worsening climate impacts and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are due to be published in 2022.
Last week’s announcement comes less than three months before the COP26 summit in Glasgow. Since its summary was reviewed by representatives from 195 countries, pressure is expected to heighten for more drastic action. The findings of this report will provide a useful tool for negotiators to drive more ambitious climate commitments.