News
BAMOS March 2023
7
Source : IPCC happens sentence by sentence , often word by word , and number by number . Sometimes it ’ s subject to intense debate .
We were both involved in this process . The role of the reports ’ authors and IPCC bureau members is to stay true to the underlying science and chart a way between different governments ’ preferences . It is a unique process for scientific documents .
The approval process usually goes right to the wire , in meetings running through the night . This Synthesis Report was no exception . The scheduled time for the meeting was extended by two days and nights , wearing down government representatives and the IPCC teams .
The process reflects how much is at stake . The IPCC ’ s assessments are formally adopted by all governments of the world . That in turn reverberates in the private sector – for example , in the decisions of boards of major companies and investment funds .
The latest on greenhouse gas emissions
The Synthesis Report confirms both emissions and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are now at record highs .
To keep warming within 2 o C above pre-industrial levels , global greenhouse gas emissions must decline by around 21 % by 2030 and around 35 % by 2035 . Keeping warming below 1.5 o C requires even stronger emissions reduction .
This is a very tall order in light of emissions trajectories to date . Annual global emissions in 2019 were 12 % higher than in 2010 , and 54 % higher than in 1990 .
But success in reducing emissions has been demonstrated . The IPCC says existing policies , laws , technologies and measures the world over are already reducing emissions by several billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases , compared to what would otherwise be the case .
Most importantly , it ’ s clear global emissions could be reduced deeply if existing policy instruments were scaled up and applied broadly . The report shows large potential for emissionsreduction options across all parts of the world economy .
Many of these come at low cost . And many bring side benefits , such as reduced air pollution . If all technically available options were used , global emissions could be at least halved by 2030 , at manageable costs .
As today ’ s report states , the global economic benefit of limiting warming to 2 o C exceeds the costs of emissions reduction . That ’ s without even taking into account the avoided damages of climate change or the side benefits that sensible action could generate .
We have the collective experience to turn the corner . As the report spells out , a great many regulatory and economic policy instruments have been used successfully . And we know how to design climate policies to make sure they ’ re politically acceptable and do not disadvantage the poorer parts of society .
The report also draws out the importance of good institutions for climate change governance — such as laws and independent bodies — and for all groups in society to be meaningfully involved .