Thread by @1TeresaAnderson

What is the new #IPCC AR6 report, and what's it about?

The report is written by hundreds of climate scientists, summarising thousands of papers.

It's basically the world's climate scientists saying "If You Read One Thing This Decade, Read This."

ipcc.ch/report/sixth-a…

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2) This #IPCC report catalogues a terrifying flood of evidence that climate impacts are far worse, harming billions more people, than was predicted just a few years ago.

It marks a shift from climate change talked about as something in the future, to something that IS happening

3) The #IPCC report confirms what communities are telling us: that floods, droughts, cyclones & rising sea levels are increasing in intensity & frequency.

And that it is those in the Global South, particularly marginalised ppl and especially women, who are suffering the most.

4) The report is clear that #LossAndDamage is now a growing reality, and particularly affecting those that have done the least to cause the problem.

This is an important message for the COP28 negotiations in Dubai, where the details of the Loss & Damage Fund will be decided.

5) The #IPCC report puts a strong emphasis on the gaps in finance for adaptation, mitigation and loss & damage, calling for 3-6x more funds.

It points out the insanity of private & public funds for fossil fuels being greater than $ currently invested in adaptation & mitigation.

6) I found this graphic pretty shocking. You can't look at this without wondering whether you will be fighting for water, or running from wildfires by the time you are 70.

This should motivate anyone to push for urgent action now.
#ipcc

7) In comparison to the IPCC’s 5th Assessment Review (AR5) 2014, you can see that just 9 years ago scientists still had very little idea just how bad it was going to get within the decade.

In AR6, observed impacts have escalated massively in the last 9 years.

8) The report points the finger of blame at fossil fuels.

It's clear that the role of techs like CCS will be limited, and that we shouldn’t pin our hopes on them. Relying on tech or forests to remove CO2 from the air is a gamble & will lead to conflicts over land, food & water.

9) For too many years, the elusive promises of technofixes or carbon offsets have allowed the biggest polluters to string us all along. Enough is enough.

Governments must stop delaying and start acting There is only a narrow window of opportunity to limit warming to 1.5°C.

10) If you got this prognosis from a doctor, you & your family would be in floods of tears. And then you’d do everything you could to change your lifestyle, to have a fighting chance.

We have to treat this report on the health of Planet Earth with the same level of seriousness.

11) Everyone reading the #ipcc report will be scared for their future.

We can limit warming to 1.5°. But only if govts treat this as a clear mandate for courageous action.

This must be the trigger that moves the world from grudging acceptance, to rapid action on climate change.