On March 20, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released their 2023 Climate Change report, entitled the Synthesis Report.
The report itself is harrowing, if unsurprising. The climate crisis is no new story. However, the information provided is a refresher for everyone, in power or not, on what needs to be done to protect our planet. The UK, among others, would particularly benefit from checking it out.
Who are the IPCC? What is the Synthesis Report?
The IPPC was established in 1988. It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly and assigned the task of assessing climate change. They were to review the social and economic risks as well as the science of our declining climate and develop recommendations based on their findings.
Throughout its life, the IPCC has consistently developed, researched and regularly produced reports. Last week saw the finalisation of their sixth report – the Synthesis Report.
What does the report tell us?
The Synthesis Report essentially spells out exactly what the problems are and how we can improve the climate situation. It details what needs to be done not just to save our planet, but to save the people who abide here. It lists things like access to clean energy and technologies, low-carbon electrification and merely increasing walking, cycling and public transport.
“Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all.”
IPCC CEO, Hoesung Lee
The key takeaways are:
- The climate crisis is still (somewhat) fixable, although there is only a small window of time remaining.
- Our efforts are no longer solely about ‘fixing’ the planet. They are also about adapting.
- We need to stay below the 1.5C global temperature increase (we are currently not on track to do this).
- We need to properly finance efforts to save the planet (we are currently not doing this).
Essentially, it’s the message we have heard and ignored for some time now: Earth is not irredeemable; however, action is needed, stat. The UK, for the sake of its residents and the world, need to be a part of this action.
“Taking the right action now could result in the transformational change essential for a sustainable, equitable world.”
The Synthesis Report
How does the UK fit into this?
Well, the UK is part of the planet. Being part of this planet means we have a duty to both prevent and amend further damage to our climate.
As it stands, the UK is not doing either.
There are several fossil fuel projects on the go and more that are being planned, namely Rosebank. Academics and activists alike are against this; the Rosebank oil field is twice the size of the controversial Cambo oil field, making it the largest oil and gas field in the North Sea.
Regardless of public petitions, this project actively works against the government’s very own climate pledge: The Net Zero Strategy. It also works against their own verbal proclamations, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously saying it is “morally right” to honour this pledge.
With Sunak set to approve Rosebank, the UK looks further and further away from protecting not only its citizens but also those of the entire world.
The IPCC is an incredibly trustworthy source and, based on their research, the UK Government is failing the climate and their citizens.
Climate change has been a persistent problem for decades and its familiarity is leading to passiveness on the current and potential effects of it. The Synthesis Report, among others, tells us exactly why and how to change. It would be daft to ignore it.
You can read the Synthesis Report in full here.
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Journalism and English Studies student with an interest in film & tv, music, and politics.
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