On Monday August 9, 2021, the IPCC 2021 report entitled "Climate Change 2021: The Scientific Basis" was published. Unfortunately, the report's conclusions are not very encouraging.
What is the IPCC?
The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It was set up in 1988 by two United Nations institutions. For over 30 years, this group has been assessing the state of knowledge on climate change. It provides an overview of the current climate situation. Its aim is not to take sides, but to provide a report on the climate situation, based on the scientific information we have, in order to better understand the risks associated with climate change and the alternatives that can be put in place to mitigate it.
The IPCC does not do its own research. Many dispute the veracity of the information it communicates, but one thing is certain: IPCC assessments are based on scientific publications whose value is widely recognized.
What does the report published this Monday, August 9, 2021 tell us?
On August 9, 2021, the IPCC published the first part of its report. It is the result of the synthesis of 14,000 scientific studies, and 234 authors worked on the report.
This report makes it irrefutably clear that the climate changes we are experiencing are the result of human activity (even if we have suspected this for years). This report confirms the seriousness of the situation.
The climatic events (floods, fires, droughts, heat waves, storms, etc.) that we have been witnessing for several years now, and which are becoming more pronounced as time goes by, are indeed the result of human activity.
Importantly, this is the first report to take account of tipping points (otherwise known as points of no return). In other words, a threshold which, s'if exceeded, will be responsible for major changes in climate. This is also known as a runaway phenomenon. These events include melting icecaps, changes in sea levels and forest dieback.
The report also shows that forests, soils and oceans will find it even harder to absorb CO2 emissions, which are at their highest level for 2 million years, reaching 410 parts per million in 2019.
It is also specified that the +1.5 degree threshold would be reached by 2040, and that the +2 degree threshold would be reached, according to 3 scenarios, by the middle of the century. This would mean that the Paris Agreement objective of limiting temperature rises to 2 or even 1.5 degrees would not be met.
What are the consequences of rising temperatures?
In addition to the persistence of extreme climatic events, as mentioned above, coastal cities will have to contend with rising sea levels and thus more frequent and severe flooding, as we move ever closer to the critical tolerance level for human health.
According to Alok Sharma, President of COP26, the IPCC report is "the strongest warning yet that human behavior is accelerating global warming at an alarming rate".
The final IPCC report summarizing the three parts is due in autumn 2022.
What's the situation today?
As we all know, climate change is here to stay, and its consequences are already being felt all over the world. We've seen it this summer too: you don't have to go far to see heavy flooding (in Germany and Belgium, but also in China), but also extreme heat, which is causing fires to ravage North America and certain Mediterranean countries.
So human activity does have an impact on all regions of the Earth.
Even if this report is not very positive, for the moment there is still hope: it is possible to reduce global warming and its consequences. As the co-chair of IPCC Group 1 puts it, "If we were to reduce greenhouse gas emissions sharply, rapidly and sustainably, we would see the benefits in 10 or 20 years' time". Many scientists agree that the solution lies in drastically changing our lifestyles and domestic policies. Strong, long-term decisions seem to be the only way forward.
What about companies?
The call goes out to businesses too: it's vital to reduce our carbon footprint and move towards a greener, more responsible economy.
At Elia, our commitments are our values. From the outset, our menstrual pants have been certified organic and Origine France Garantie. We encourage know-how and local production to reduce our CO2 emissions.
Shall we keep in touch?