In response the IPCC’s ominous warning on climate change, the UK has called for an urgent global response to help avert disaster.
The report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] on Monday comes as a warning that human influence is warming the planet at a faster rate than previously thought.
It comes amid extreme weather phenomena across the globe, with flash flooding across western and central Europe due to increased rainfall, and wildfires roaring through parts of the US, Canada, Greece and Turkey.
Responding to the report, prime minister Boris Johnson said on Monday: “Today’s report makes for sobering reading, and it is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet.
“We know what must be done to limit global warming – consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline.
“The UK is leading the way, decarbonising our economy faster than any country in the G20 over the last two decades. I hope today’s IPCC report will be a wake-up call for the world to take action now, before we meet in Glasgow in November for the critical COP26 summit.”
The UK has already set ambitious climate change targets by pledging to cut carbon emissions by 68 per cent by 2030, 78 per cent by 2035, and reach net zero by 2050.
In a meeting with climate change experts on Monday, COP26 president Alok Sharma called on nations that have not already committed to Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce emissions since the 2015 Paris Agreement to urgently submit or update their pledges ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Sharma's urged that such decisive and ambitious action is necessary to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and avert climate tipping points.
Sharma said: “The science is clear, the impacts of the climate crisis can be seen around the world and if we don’t act now, we will continue to see the worst effects impact lives, livelihoods and natural habitats.
“Our message to every country, government, business and part of society is simple. The next decade is decisive, follow the science and embrace your responsibility to keep the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius live.
“We can do this together, by coming forward with ambitious 2030 emission reduction targets and long-term strategies with a pathway to net zero by the middle of the century, and taking action now to end coal power, accelerate the roll out of electric vehicles, tackle deforestation and reduce methane emissions.”
Climate Change minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan added: “The impacts of climate change are already affecting lives and livelihoods around the world, with increasing frequency and severity. Alongside the need to drive down emissions, this report rings the alarm to urgently help vulnerable communities adapt and build resilience - in developed and developing countries alike.
“Protecting the most vulnerable is a priority for the UK’s COP26 Presidency. World leaders must heed the science and work together to adapt to our changing climate, as well as act to avert, minimise and address loss and damage for those on the frontline.”
