IPCC: climate change is man-made and potentially irreversible

A leaked draft report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the impacts of climate change may soon be irreversible.

The draft, which has been seen by The Associated Press (AP), paints a bleak picture of climate change, stating that it is probably already causing a variety of dangerous impacts, and calls for more decisive and urgent action. The latest report combines three earlier papers, attempting to show how issues are connected.

The report has been sent to governments and is expected to be published in October. The information in the draft could yet be changed before it is officially released.

The draft says, “Continuing emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting change in all components of the climate system, increasing likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.”

It continues that the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events, from flooding to droughts, “might already be considered dangerous”. It also reportedly links climate change to an increasing amount of conflict and war. The second of the IPCC reports also outlined a worrying scenario of conflicts, driven by food crises and economic losses.

The IPCC also predicts that without cuts to greenhouse gas emissions “climate change risks are likely to be high or very high by the end of the 21st century”, reports AP. It explains that if emissions are not cut mid-century, temperatures could increase by 2C compared to temperatures from 1986 to 2005 and by 3.7C by the end of the century.

If the estimates prove correct it would put temperatures well above the internationally agreed target of 2C. Beyond that threshold, scientists fear that a number of climate tipping points will be crossed, leading to irreversible and unpredictable damage.

Photo: satagyi via Freeimages

Further reading:

IPCC findings demand investment in a sustainable future, say investors

The IPCC’s stark warning: no nation will be untouched by climate change

Leaked IPCC report warns of social and economic impact of climate change

IPCC report proves fossil fuel investors are ‘wrecking our future’

IPCC climate report means cleantech ‘an attractive proposition for any investor’