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- The 56th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approved the Summary for PolicyMakers (SPM) of the Working Group III contribution to the Sixth Assessment Cycle (AR6 WGIII) titled ‘Mitigation of Climate Change’.
Major Highlights of the report
- Updated global assessment:
- It provides an updated global assessment of climate change mitigation progress and pledges, and examines the sources of global emissions.
- It explains developments in emission reduction and mitigation efforts, assessing the impact of national climate pledges in relation to long-term emissions goals.
- Greenhouse gas emissions:
- In 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed.
- Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is beyond reach.
- However, there is increasing evidence of climate action.
- Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is beyond reach.
- In 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed.
- Costs of solar and wind energy, and batteries:
- Since 2010, there have been sustained decreases of up to 85% in the costs of solar and wind energy, and batteries.
- An increasing range of policies and laws have enhanced energy efficiency, reduced rates of deforestation and accelerated the deployment of renewable energy.
- Since 2010, there have been sustained decreases of up to 85% in the costs of solar and wind energy, and batteries.
- Countries were falling behind:
- It found that countries were falling behind on the policies and actions needed to reach net zero emissions, and in current form could see temperatures rise by as much as 3C, a catastrophic level.
Suggestions
- Drastic changes will be needed to all aspects of the global economy and society, to phase out dependence on fossil fuels.
- To achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world must reduce annual CO2 emissions by 48 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 (India has opted for a net zero target of 2070) while reducing methane emissions a third by 2030 and almost halving them by 2050.
- Retrofitting existing fossil fuel assets with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being proposed as one option to reduce the amount of emissions already locked in by existing infrastructure.
- Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector.
- This will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen).
- Cities and other urban areas also offer significant opportunities for emissions reductions.
- These can be achieved through lower energy consumption (such as by creating compact, walkable cities), electrification of transport in combination with low-emission energy sources, and enhanced carbon uptake and storage using nature.
- There are options for established, rapidly growing and new cities.
- Reducing emissions in industry will involve using materials more efficiently, reusing and recycling products and minimising waste.
- Agriculture, forestry, and other land use can provide large-scale emissions reductions and also remove and store carbon dioxide at scale.
- Mitigation in industry can reduce environmental impacts and increase employment and business opportunities.
- Electrification with renewables and shifts in public transport can enhance health, employment, and equity.
- The developed countries – especially China, the United States, and the European Union – must significantly ramp up their climate mitigation efforts as these three big emitters alone would consume 45 per cent of the available carbon space by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario.”
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Assessment Reports
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Source:IE
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