On Feb 28, 2022, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC in short published the second installment of its Sixth Assessment Report. This time, the report focused on the effects of climate change on ecosystems and society. The report titled Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability were deemed an “atlas of human suffering” by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The report was compiled by 270 authors from 67 countries and incorporated research from more than 34,000 scientific papers. It stresses the interconnections among climate, biodiversity, and human well-being — a critical link that is often overlooked in environmental analysis.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:
Cities at high risk: Cities — which house more than half of the world’s population — are at the highest risk from climate change. Globally, about 3.3-3.6 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change and the poorest are to be hit the hardest. Low-income populations face the largest gap in adaptation action, in terms of what is happening versus what is needed.
Some changes irreversible: Up to 14 percent of species face a very high risk of extinction at global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) over pre-industrial levels. The risk increases to 29 percent at 3°C and 39 percent at 4°C of global warming.
Some climate change-driven losses, such as the extinction of species, are irreversible. Others are approaching irreversibility with accelerating climate change including the retreat of glaciers in the Arctic region.
Impact on health, food, agriculture: Climate change has conclusively affected the physical and mental health of people around the world. Human society will increasingly face heat stress, water scarcity, threats to food security and flood risks as the crisis worsens. At 2°C of warming, people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Small Island Developing States will face severe food shortages and malnutrition.
The report also provides a vast set of options to reduce risks to people and nature. Strengthening of health systems, promoting Agroforestry, Conservation, protection and restoration of natural forests are to name a few. The report urges Cities to use nature-based engineering approaches like establishing parks, green corridors, and urban agriculture.
Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. Any further delay in global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.
