IPCC's Climate Report Published

The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030.

According to scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released today (4 April 2022), from 2010 to 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.

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.

"We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming," said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee. "I am encouraged by climate action being taken in many countries. There are policies, regulations and market instruments that are proving effective. If these are scaled up and applied more widely and equitably, they can support deep emissions reductions and stimulate innovation."

The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group III report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of climate change was approved on 4 April 2022, by 195 member governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that started on 21 March. It is the third instalment of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year.

The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. IPCC assessments provide governments, at all levels, with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies and carry out international negotiations to tackle climate change.

The IPCC assesses the thousands of scientific papers published each year to tell policymakers what we know and don't know about the risks related to climate change. The panel identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community, where there are differences of opinion, and where further research is needed.

The Working Group III report 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.

We have options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030

Limiting global warming will require significant transitions in the energy sector, involving a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and alternative fuels (such as hydrogen).

"Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential," said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Priyadarshi Shukla.

"The evidence also shows that these lifestyle changes can improve our health and wellbeing."

Cities and other urban areas also offer significant opportunities for emissions reductions.

These can be achieved through lower energy consumption (such as 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.

"We see examples of zero energy or zero-carbon buildings in almost all climates," said IPCC Working Group III Co-Chair Jim Skea. "Action in this decade is critical to capture the mitigation potential of buildings."

Reducing emissions in industry will involve using materials more efficiently, reusing and recycling products and minimising waste. This sector accounts for about a quarter of global emissions. Achieving net zero will be challenging and will require new production processes, low and zero-emissions electricity, hydrogen, and, where necessary, carbon capture and storage.

Agriculture, forestry, and other land use can provide large-scale emissions reductions and also remove and store carbon dioxide at scale. However, land cannot compensate for delayed emissions reductions in other sectors. Response options can benefit biodiversity, help us adapt to climate change, and secure livelihoods, food and water, and wood supplies.

The next few years are critical

In the scenarios assessed, limiting warming to around 1.5°C requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest and be reduced by 43% by 2030. At the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third. Even if we do this, it is almost inevitable that we will temporarily exceed this temperature threshold but could return to below it by the end of the century.

"It's now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C," said Skea. "Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible."

The global temperature will stabilise when carbon dioxide emissions reach net zero. For 1.5°C, this means achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally in the early 2050s; for 2°C, it is in the early 2070s.

Closing investment gaps

The report looks beyond technologies and demonstrates that while financial flows are three to six times lower than levels needed by 2030 to limit warming to below 2°C, there is sufficient global capital and liquidity to close investment gaps. However, it relies on clear signalling from governments and the international community, including stronger public sector finance and policy alignment.

"Without taking into account the economic benefits of reduced adaptation costs or avoided climate impacts, global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be just a few percentage points lower in 2050 if we take the actions necessary to limit warming to 2°C (3.6°F) or below, compared to maintaining current policies," said Shukla.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Accelerated and equitable climate action in mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts is critical to sustainable development. Some response options can absorb and store carbon and, at the same time, help communities limit the impacts associated with climate change. For example, networks of parks and open spaces in cities, wetlands and urban agriculture can reduce flood risk and heat-island effects.

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.

"Climate change is the result of more than a century of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production," said Skea. "This report shows how taking action now can move us towards a fairer, more sustainable world."

The Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group III contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) as well as additional materials and information are available at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/

AR6 Working Group III in numbers

• 278 authors from 65 countries
• 36 – coordinating lead authors
• 163 – lead authors
• 38 – review editors
• 354 – contributing authors
• Over 18,000 cited references
• A total of 59,212 expert and government review comments

The Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report will be completed in the second half of 2022. For more information, go to www.ipcc.ch