The IPCC report

As of last week the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change), released their 2021 report. The assessment includes the most recent evidence based research regarding the current state of the planet. 

With the opening statement placing humans as a main contributor to our current climate crisis, there is a loud call for action being heard around the world. The target previously set in the Paris Climate Agreement was to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), but it is inevitable that within the next decade the planet will exceed that. 

Rising temperatures will cause various extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves all over the globe. A main component of the report was the scenarios, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), scientists considered to come up with possible outcomes. From best-case to worst-case, the data was calculated to represent the global average surface temperature increase based on the positive or negative actions of the people. 

The current path predicted, if we maintain status quo, would have global carbon emissions increasing before they plateau and eventually begin to fall around 2050. Temperatures will only stop rising once the percentage of carbon emissions has reached zero. 

One of the key takeaways from the research presented was that there is still time to remedy the wounds humans have inflicted. If policy makers start to focus laws that favor sustainability, the goal for the climate will come closer into view. 

The International Energy Agency, IEA’s, plan to be at net zero carbon emissions by 2050 highlights the importance of creating bold laws to address the “code red for humanity”. Putting current and future innovations that work to reduce emissions for different aspects of daily life will be the key to reversing the damage done. Positive change is still considered change and that causes some to shy away from making the big decisions. Avoiding those hard choices is no longer a viable option.