IPCC Releases AR6 Climate Change 2022 (WG2) Report:
Human-induced climate change is already causing widespread negative impacts
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has finalized the second part of the Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6/WG2 Report).
The AR6/WG2 report focuses on the interactions among climate, ecosystems, and human society, summarizing observed climate change impacts and vulnerabilities, how we can adapt to those impacts, and how we can manage future risks. Following August 2021’s AR6/WG1 report (The Physical Science Basis), which stated that “there is no doubt that human impacts are warming the climate system,” this report concludes that “human-induced climate change is accompanied by more frequent and intense extreme weather events that go beyond natural climate change and causes extensive adverse impacts and associated losses and damages to nature and human society.”
Here are some key points from the report’s summarized analysis of climate change impacts and risks.
- Human-induced climate change, including more frequent and intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people, beyond natural climate variability.
- Climate change impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and more difficult to manage.
- Rising temperatures would cause unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards and impacts of climate change are projected to be even worse in the future. The 127 key risks identified in this report could be several times greater than currently observed.
- Near-term actions that limit global warming to close to 1.5°C would substantially reduce projected losses and damages related to climate change in human systems and ecosystems, compared to higher warming levels, but cannot eliminate them all.
- Vulnerability of ecosystems and people to climate change differs substantially among and within regions and societies. Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change. The impact on regions and societies vulnerable to climate change is particularly significant.
- Efforts to adapt to climate change have had some effect, but not enough. Vulnerable communities need more support. Adaptation is critically important. Political commitment and follow-through, institutional frameworks, policies and instruments, mobilization of adequate financial resources, monitoring and evaluation, and inclusive governance processes make adaptation possible.
- Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems is fundamental to climate-resilient development, in light of the threats climate change poses to them and their roles in adaptation and mitigation.
- Current unsustainable development patterns are increasing exposure of people and ecosystems to climate hazards. If emission trends remain unchanged, further adverse effects of climate change are inevitable in the near future.
The last section (SPM.D.5) indicates that climate change has unequivocally already disrupted human and natural systems, and that societal choices and actions implemented in the next decade will determine the extent to which medium- and long-term pathways will deliver higher or lower climate resilient development. If we delay the implementation of emission reduction and adaptation measures, we will quickly lose any remaining time we have. The most important thing to do is not to take incremental steps, but to initiate comprehensive and far-reaching transformation as soon as possible.
IPCC：Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
References:
Regarding the Publication of the Working Group II Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/2589.html
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/