Aug 30, 2021
This past month the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report with staggering conclusions for all of us, reminding us that we still have time to act to reduce the most oppressive consequences of climate change, and that we must begin immediately.
The key findings:
We have time to limit the impact of climate change through “strong and sustained reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG).” According to the Report, the world has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius. When we reach 1.5 degree Celsius of global warming there will be increasing heatwaves, longer warm seasons and shorter cold seasons. If the temperature rises by 2 degrees Celsius heat extremes “would more often reach critical tolerance thresholds for agriculture and health.”
The IPCC Report sends an essential signal to the business community that we must halve GHG emissions by 2030. Our response must be “immediate, rapid and large-scale.” Business can take the following actions:
Set science-based targets for emissions:
Over 700 companies around the world have set science-based targets, or emissions targets which are aligned with a change of temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius. These companies include Mahindra, Cemex, and Unilever.
The IPCC was formed in 1988 and is composed of 195 member governments. As such, it represents the community of nations and includes 200 scientists from around the world. The IPPC Report focuses on the scientific, technical, and social-economic aspects of climate change.
The final installment of the report is due out in 2022. In the meantime, the world’s leaders continue to prepare for COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled to take place between November 1- 12 in Glasgow, presided over by the United Kingdom.
The IPCC’s Vice Chair, Ko Barrett calls for “unprecedented, transformational change.” The next few months and years will be crucial as we seek to mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to our transforming planet.
For more information on the report, go to https://www.ipcc.ch/.
She is Consultant on Social Innovation, Sustainability, and Human Rights, Lecturer, Senior Fellow, Institute for Social Innovation, Babson College, USA, Founder, The Lexicon of Change
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Author, Consultant on Social Innovation, Sustainability, and Human Rights, Lecturer, Senior Fellow, Institute for Social Innovation, Babson College, USA, Founder, The Lexicon of Change
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