The 2022 Progress Report on Climate Change aims to set a clear path for the global community to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. It aims to do this by scaling up action across all sectors. In this article we look at Working Group II, regional atlases, and the impacts on ecosystems and human systems.
Working Group II
The Working Group II (WGI) progress report on climate change 2022 includes conclusions about the likely outcomes of climate change. The report finds that a 1.5-degree increase in global temperatures would cause multiple risks to human and ecosystem health. It recommends that countries accelerate their efforts to reduce the effects of climate change.
Adaptation to climate change requires accelerated action, including rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, progress in implementing adaptation is uneven.With the largest gaps occurring in the poorest countries. Yet, there are many options available for adapting to climate change, including using nature as a tool to reduce risks and improve people’s lives. This report recommends a number of measures that will help countries meet their goals.
Realistically there is no one answer to how to curb climate change. There is a clear need for action to limit emissions. The latest report from Working Group II highlights the need to accelerate climate action and tackle climate risks. Which includes a special section on biodiversity hot-spots, deserts, and polar regions. Including a climate change atlas, which presents data at a global, regional, and local level.
IPCC-52 was held on 24-28 February 2020 in Paris, France. At this session, the IPCC agreed to adopt the outline for the AR6 SYR and to create a Action Team. Deciding to create an ad hoc group with an open membership and make recommendations on its size and structure. The Working Group endorsed the terms of reference for the IPCC Trust Fund Program and its budget for the next AR cycle.
IPCC assessments of climate change science provide scientific information and are a key input for international climate negotiations. They are prepared in stages and undergo peer review to ensure objectivity. Various working groups submit their reports and the final report is the Synthesis Report. The Synthesis Report combines all the findings of the working groups’ reports.
Global to regional atlas
The IPCC Global to Regional Atlas is a comprehensive tool that outlines climate change vulnerabilities and impacts. It will present new information on the risks of climate change and how adaptation can help address the challenges of climate change. Highlighting the connection between climate adaptation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s edition will include a new section on cities and climate change, focusing on the growing vulnerability of communities to climate change.
Over 3 billion people live in regions that are highly exposed to this problem. A mere 1.1 degrees of warming will be enough to disrupt life in those regions. Already, extreme heat and record floods are devastating communities, resulting in the displacement of millions.
Most cities are adapting to the effects of climate change. The report recommends more farsighted policies and strategies to reduce vulnerability. Like coastal communities moving inland as oceans rise. Development on shorelines could be discouraged. Struggling communities can use improved basic services. Like better water options and energy infrastructure.
Impacts on ecosystems
Climate change is already causing major changes to our planet’s ecosystems, disrupting human civilization and the lives of billions of people. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report this week titled, “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.” The report highlights that the world is facing multiple climate hazards in the next decades, including increased flooding and drought, which are already exposing millions to water insecurity.
By the end of the century, nearly one-third of the population in southern Europe could face water scarcity. Crop and fish harvests in many areas would decline, and 1.4 million people in Africa could be at risk. The frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events could increase fivefold by 2050. Sea-level rise flooding becoming four times as costly. Hundreds of thousands of species could become extinct.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes a strong case for urgent action on climate change. It links human activities to global climate change, causing rises in sea levels, decreased crop yields, and an increase in extreme weather events.
The Paris agreement is meant to cut global warming below 2degC. The consequences of such actions are uncertain. Fortunately, there are several ways to tackle these problems. For one, we should focus on protecting natural ecosystems. Like restoring ecosystems by reintroducing large herbivores will help to store carbon.
As climate change intensifies, the planet could be pushed past the tipping points. Some species and ecosystems are already at their adaptability limits and have shifted habitats to adapt. If these changes continue, 14% of terrestrial species could be at risk of extinction. Up to 24% of the world’s population could be affected by flooding and 90% of coral reefs could disappear.
These changes could cause broad physical alterations in pelagic ecosystems, including the rise of sea temperatures, altered stratification of surface layers, and decreased sea ice. These results in ecosystems may trigger diverse ecological responses.
Impacts on human systems
A landmark report on climate change, Impacts of climate change on human systems in 2222, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that extreme weather events will outstrip the resilience of human systems and ecological systems. Demonstrating that climate change could have negative impacts on humanity and food security.
Extreme events like drought and flooding could disrupt food supply chains, affecting supply numbers and livelihoods. These events are already causing a wide range of problems for human societies, including conflict, economic instability, infrastructure damage, and biodiversity loss. Climate change will only exacerbate these challenges.
Adapting to this change could require monumental effort. Communities and the decision makers must begin to consider how their resources and ecosystems will be affected by changes in the physical climate. This means identifying the resilience of different systems and the costs of adapting. Research is needed to find the best materials, systems, and infrastructure that are more resilient. Like identifying critical nodes and redundancies.
Strong reductions in emissions would help limit global warming and stabilize temperatures. The benefits of improved air quality would be felt quickly. It would take 20-30 years to stabilize temperatures worldwide. The report, published by IPCC Working Group I, was endorsed by 195 countries and is the first in a series of reports that will culminate in a comprehensive assessment of climate change impacts in 2022.
If global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, adaptation efforts will be challenged. The costs of protecting coastal communities could surpass the budgets of many nations. As livestock and outdoor workers will be threatened by extreme heat. This could make farming harder and more expensive. Making it essential for countries and people take action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And prepare for the impacts of climate change.
These indicators were developed to provide a framework for monitoring climate-induced health impacts. The CCIEVIs are designed to track progress and trends over time. The indicators are categorized into five thematic clusters. These indicators have been improved and added as more data becomes available. The biggest challenge remains the way to measure the relationships between climate change and health.
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Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. Make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
