The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth assessment report, published today, has confirmed the need for urgent action to address the climate crisis.
Commenting on the landmark review of climate change science, Sarah-Jayne Clifton, Friends of the Earth International climate justice and energy coordinator said: “The world’s scientists have spoken, affirming once again and now with absolute certainty that climate change caused by humans is happening and that it poses a severe and immediate threat to our future and that of the planet.
“Communities around the world are already being devastated by extreme weather. It is untenable for our political leaders to continue their inaction.
“The interests of humanity must be prioritised above the profits of dirty energy corporations through an urgent and dramatic transformation of the world’s corporate-controlled, unsustainable energy system.
“A climate-friendly energy system which meets the basic energy needs of everyone is possible. The science demands it, people demand it, our planet demands it – our governments must now have the political will to make it happen.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s fifth assessment report on the physical science basis of climate change, released in Sweden, confirms beyond all reasonable doubt that climate change is real; that it is caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions; and that it poses a severe and immediate threat to human well-being, including food production and human security.
The report draws the alarming conclusion that an average global warming of 4 degrees Celsius is “as likely as not likely” by 2100 and asserts with a high degree of confidence that warming over large land masses, such as Africa, Asia and the Americas, will be even higher than average global warming.
2013 has seen extreme weather events devastate communities and cities around the world. Just a few days ago, Mexico was lashed by two tropical storms at the same time and Colorado faced a one in a 1000-year flood after droughts and raging forest fires. In June, thousands perished in severe floods and landslides in the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand and thousands were removed from their homes in Germany due to floods. Earlier this year, over 150,000 people in southern Mozambique were temporarily forced from their homes due to floods.
The IPCC confirms that climate impacts already experienced have been worse than originally predicted, and predicts a likelihood of increased frequency of heat waves, increased frequency and severity of heavy storms, and a significantly increased risk of devastating forest fires.
