UN climate report sends the final warning

A top United Nations panel of scientists stressed on Monday the urgency to adopt responsible climate actions, according to Associated Press New.

Walking on thin ice

Paris Climate Agreement signed in 2015 set a global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius. Report authors told The Associated Press this report is likely the last warning before the planet is in a critical point where the limit set is surpassed or close to.

Report co-author and water scientist Aditi Mukherji referred to how “1.5 is a critical limit, particularly for small islands and… communities which depend on glaciers.”

Three co-authors of the report, in addition to many other scientists, however believe hitting the 1.5 degrees threshold is inescapable. Hitting this point, even harsher weather conditions are expected to occur.

The report emphasized that the continuation of using fossil fuels would not only contribute to reaching threshold in a faster pace. The planet is expected to warm 2 degrees Celsius, at least, more than pre-industrial times.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is quotes to describe the current situation to be “Humanity… on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast.” In order to achieve this goal, the Panel on Climate Change recommended cutting about two-thirds of carbon pollution by 2035. UN Chief demanded ending fossil fuels exploration and a full energy transformation by 2040 from rich countries’ side.

Prevailing Disparity

Science panel chief Hoesung Lee highlighted the prevailing disparity between nations with regards to global warming causes and effects. Poorer nations are “up to 15 times more likely to die in floods, droughts and storms,” Lee stated. Therefore, rich nations need to duplicate financial help they are promising or providing, panel chief elaborated.

Tina Stege, climate envoy for Marshall Islands stressed how the future of life and the planet is what is at stake when we discuss climate actions. “How many reports that chill us to the bone do we need to read before we make the changes required?” Stege wondered.

Mukherji insisted, however, that the authors’ “intention is really a message of hope, and not that of doomsday.’’ Lee outlined the panel left the freedom of deciding suitable action plans to responsible parties. “it’s up to each government to find the best solution,” he stated.