Here are the big takeaways from the @IPCC_CH Synthesis Report released today.
First, climate change has already caused widespread and substantial losses to almost every aspect of human life on this planet, and the impacts on future generations depend on the choices we make NOW.
Second, every bit of warming matters. The warmer the planet gets, the more widespread and pronounced the changes in both average climate and climate and weather extremes become.
Third, the impacts are very serious: they directly affect our health, our food sources, our water and more.
Fourth, the percentage of animal species exposed to potentially dangerous conditions increases significantly the faster the world warms. In general, ocean species like coral and tropical species are most at risk.
The "burning embers" diagram originally conceptualized by Steve Schneider and others so long ago has been updated to show even higher risks at lower temperature thresholds. To be honest, not unexpected. The "experiment" we're conducting with our planet is unprecedented.
So given this dire news, surely we are well on our way to cutting our carbon emissions, no?
No.
The synthesis report is crystal clear: we are not doing nearly enough to avoid dangerous impacts, let alone achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement.
Our choices matter and the faster we act, the better off we will all be - all of us who call this planet home.
Finally, so many of the solutions are (a) already available today, and (b) benefit us in so many ways -- addressing health, equity, justice, and even economic concerns while increasing resilience and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.
Climate change stands between us and a better future. Many of the solutions are already at hand. At this point, the only question is: what are we waiting for?
* For individuals, the answer is often "because I don't know what to do." So that's why I gave this TED talk, helped design this tool, and wrote this book. Check them out!
1/ ted.com/talks/katharin…
2/ dontlookup.count-us-in.com
3/ simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-U…
** Here's the website where you can access all the figures and the report itself: ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr…
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