PRESS RELEASE: From Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
BERLIN, Feb 28 – Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption
in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the
risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit, said scientists in the latest
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released today.
The world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global
warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F). Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional
severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to
infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements.
The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group II report, Climate Change 2022:
Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was approved on Sunday, February 27 2022, by 195 member
governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that was held over two weeks starting
on February 14.
Urgent action required to deal with increasing risks
Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance
thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals. These weather extremes
are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage.
They have exposed millions of people to acute food and water insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia,
Central and South America, on Small Islands and in the Arctic.
To avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, ambitious, accelerated action is
required to adapt to climate change, at the same time as making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse
gas emissions. So far, progress on adaptation is uneven and there are increasing gaps between
action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps
are largest among lower-income populations.
The Working Group II report is the second instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6),
which will be completed this year.“
This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates
natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung
Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks.
Half measures are no longer an option.”
Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future
There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s
potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people’s lives.
By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.”
IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner
“Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as
food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring
degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land,
freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store
carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance
and political support are essential.”
Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of
natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme
events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development.
“Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone –
governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well
as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair
Debra Roberts.
“In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together
scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be
more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.
Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution
This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities,
where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as
property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being
increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as
slow-onset changes, including sea level rise.
“Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities
that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and
a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said.
“But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.”
Debra Roberts
“But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean
water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas
can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.”
There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example
destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can
be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on
Indigenous and local knowledge.
A narrowing window for action
Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group
II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information
to enable Climate Resilient Development.
The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming
levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will
be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for
climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political
commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions
reductions.
“The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.”
Hans-Otto Pörtner
“The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the
health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing
window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner.
For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group II:
Sina Löschke, Komila Nabiyeva: comms@ipcc-wg2.awi.de