IPCC Sixth Assessment Report

Context:

The second part of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) was released recently.

The report has warned of multiple climate changes even if steps are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

About the report:

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – one of the world’s most influential and respected scientific bodies – has published the condensed ‘summary for policymakers’ edition of part two of its three-pronged Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).

A companion to last August’s Working Group I (WGI) report on the physical science of climate change, the AR6 Working Group II (WGII) report collates findings from hundreds of scientists across 195 countries.

• It aims to reframe climate megatrends in terms of impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability of ecosystems, human society, cities, settlements, services, infrastructure, and industries.  
• It is designed to inform policymakers, nations, businesses, and communities with the most credible science currently available on how human-driven climate change is already reshaping life on Earth.
• WGII report makes clear the connection between achieving progress against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting adaptation at a local community level. 
• It also highlights the importance of social justice and Indigenous knowledge in shaping our response to this existential threat.

Key findings of the Report:

• The Report affirms that climate change due to historical emissions is leading to serious impacts which are already being felt globally including in developing countries with low contribution to cumulative emissions. 
• These impacts will rise as warming proceeds and will rise rapidly at higher levels of warming.
• The Report emphasizes that action on adaptation is urgently needed – as urgently as action on mitigation.
• The latest report has, for the first time, made an assessment of regional and sectoral impacts of climate change. 
• It has included risks to, and vulnerabilities of, mega-cities around the world. 
• The Report recognizes the key role of agriculture and the great importance of food security in adaptation.

Report’s Summary for Policymakers:

• The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) underlines the need for climate action on the basis of equity and climate justice to ensure the well-being of humanity and the planet. 
• The science of climate resilience now fully acknowledges the importance of equity and climate justice that India has always championed and had brought into the Paris Agreement. 
• Further, the SPM clearly acknowledges the importance of Indigenous and Local Knowledge in adaptation to climate change.
• Vulnerable and marginalized communities, regions and populations face rising exposure to hazards. The SPM notes that vulnerability is enhanced by lack of development, social and economic inequalities. 
• The Report is a clarion call for the world to abandon their unsustainable production and consumption and move urgently to climate resilient development. 
• The Report notes that the impacts and the consequent limitations to adaptation would rise beyond 1.5 degree warming above pre-industrial levels. 
• Provision of finance is critical for helping developing countries and vulnerable populations act quickly and effectively. Public finance is the key enabler for adaptation. 
• Development to reduce non-climatic drivers of vulnerability is critical to promoting adaptation and is already reducing vulnerability. 

The Report re-affirms that the balance between adaptation and mitigation in climate resilient development depends on national circumstances according to countries’ capabilities including resources and past contributions to global emissions.

India specific study in report: 

The report identifies India as one of the vulnerable hotspots, with several regions and important cities facing very high risk of climate disasters such as flooding, sea-level rise and heat-waves. 

• Mumbai is at high risk of sea-level rise and flooding.
• Ahmedabad faces serious danger of heat-waves. 
• Several cities, including Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Patna and Lucknow, are approaching dangerous levels of heat and humidity. 

• Infrastructure, including transportation, water, and sanitation and energy systems has been compromised by extreme and slow-onset events, with resulting economic losses, disruptions of services and impacts to well- being. 
• Urban India is at greater risk than other areas with a projected population of 877 million by 2050, nearly double of 480 million in 2020. 
• At present, wet-bulb temperatures in India rarely exceed 31 degrees C, with most of the country experiencing maximum wet-bulb temperatures of 25-30 degrees C, according to IPCC. 

Significance:

• India is already walking the path of climate resilient development with its combination of several adaptation-oriented development actions and its contribution to mitigation. 
• At COP26, as the implementation of the Paris Agreement began, India reaffirmed its commitment to climate actions, including the goal of net zero by 2070, and the one-word mantra of L.I.F.E. = lifestyles for environment.

About the IPCC:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.

• It was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations. 
• The IPCC is an organization of governments that are members of the United Nations or WMO. 
• The IPCC currently has 195 members. 

Objectives: 

• The objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. 
• It also provides periodic scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The IPCC has three working groups:

1. Working Group I: dealing with the physical science basis of climate change.
2. Working Group II: dealing with impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.
3. Working Group III: dealing with the mitigation of climate change.