The IPCC often produces a report, but this is a summary of the past seven years with very clear conclusions. “This is the report on which the political policy of the coming years will be based,” says climate specialist Bart Verheggen of RTL News.
Heat stress
According to this report, we are currently putting a viable and sustainable future at stake for everyone, says the IPCC. According to the report, in order to achieve the climate goals, it is imperative that global CO2 emissions peak before 2025, and then have to decrease very quickly.
Big words, but what exactly does the IPCC mean by a liveable and sustainable future? Verheggen says that we are faced with the disappearance of animal species, for example, and there is an increasing direct danger to people from heat stress.
‘Mopping with the tap open’
Climate change increasingly threatens our well-being of current and future generations, the report shows. Verheggen is not surprised by the conclusions, but finds the tone of this report particularly striking. “There is a lot of urgency.”
Sea level researcher and co-author of the report Aimée Slangen says that we can adapt to climate change and sea level rise in certain ways, but adds: “Without rapid mitigation of further warming, it is mopping with the tap open.”
So nothing goes right at all? Certainly. The report also mentions the ‘hopeful developments’ that exist. “Solar and wind energy, more efficient energy use, electrification, green infrastructure, reforestation and reducing food waste are possible, are becoming cheaper and can count on broad public support.” There’s just one problem: it’s not nearly enough.
Fossil takes priority
According to the IPCC, this decade will determine whether global warming can still be limited to an average of 1.5 or 2 degrees. But CO2 emissions from the current fossil infrastructure are already taking us past 1.5 degrees. More money is still going to fossil fuels than to renewable energy.
So far too little has been done to date to really reduce emissions. And according to the IPCC, this applies to almost all areas. Policy, technology, finance, acceleration is needed everywhere. In the area of finance, the extent to which fossil fuels continue to take precedence over renewable sources is cited as a particular obstacle. That is still often the case.
‘Every fraction of a degree counts’
One of those renewable energy sources is, of course, wind energy. But due to climate change, the wind is becoming less and less windy in the world. Nevertheless, windmills are still very useful. You can see it in the video below:
The report makes it clear that the benefits of climate policy far outweigh the costs. “And don’t forget the additional benefits of, for example, cleaner air by switching to cleaner energy sources. The economic value of this is estimated to be of the same order of magnitude as the costs of climate policy,” says Verheggen.
“Although there is a lot of focus on the climate targets of 1.5 and 2 degrees, the report makes it clear that every fraction of a degree counts,” says Verheggen. “The risks above that are increasing faster and faster, so we have to work extra hard precisely when the objectives are out of sight.”
The IPCC is a leading body when it comes to climate reporting, and is not alone in sounding the alarm. Just last week, a study group of civil servants from various ministries came to far-reaching climate advice. “The time for low-hanging fruit is over,” officials concluded.
Recommendations by sector
They mapped out what the government can do to combat climate change. It is clear that every sector must get to work and citizens will feel this in their wallets.
In the story below you can see the most important recommendations per sector:
