21 Mar 2023 IPCC AR 6 Synthesis Report

IPCC AR 6 Synthesis Report

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details the latest IPCC AR 6 report (Sixth Assessment Cycle). The IPCC report highlights the state of climate change and the efforts being taken by countries to offset the impact of climate change. The topic has relevance in the Environment section of the UPSC CSE exam.

Relevance for UPSC-CSE

For Prelims:

• What is IPCC?
• Findings of IPCC

For Mains:

• GS 3: Environment
• Findings of IPCC
• Measures are taken to control climate change

What are the findings of the IPCC AR 6 Synthesis Report?

• Role of CO2: The report reinforces the scientific view that CO2 is the primary GHG and needs to be drastically reduced. The report asserts that for every 1000 Gt of Carbon Dioxide emitted due to anthropogenic activity, the global surface temperature rises by 0.45°C.
• Climate justice and equity: These are crucial enablers to ensure climate action and growth and development in developing countries.
• Financing gap: The reports say that the largest financing gaps are in developing countries and financial support from developed countries is a critical enabler. It further says that the support from developed countries is falling short of the levels needed to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
• Focus on Sustainable Development: The report highlights that the negative fallouts of developmental processes will exacerbate the issue of climate change. Also, climate change events like floods, heat waves, etc, will also impact the existing pace of development. Hence, there is a need to focus on sustainable development and climate-resilient development.
• Need for International Cooperation: Apart from financing needs international cooperation is also needed in sharing technology and best practices.
• Mitigation and Adaptation measures: In order to offset the losses made by climate change there is a need to bring in mitigation and adaptation measures. The rise in temperature and the related impact cannot be reversed entirely so a focus on mitigation and adaptation measures is needed.
• Emphasis on ‘LIFE’: The report highlights the Indian vision for ‘LiFE’, or Lifestyle for Environment, which is a global mass movement for promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle to protect and preserve the environment.

IPCC Report

What is IPCC?

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is a scientific intergovernmental body established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The aim of the IPCC is to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

• The mandate of the IPCC is to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• The IPCC does not carry out its own research but instead assesses and synthesizes the latest scientific, technical, and socio-economic literature relevant to climate change.
• The IPCC operates through a cycle of assessment reports, with the most recent being the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) released in 2021. These IPCC reports involve a comprehensive and rigorous review of the existing literature by hundreds of scientific experts from around the world, as well as input from governments and stakeholders. The IPCC’s assessments have been instrumental in shaping international climate policy, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

IPCC

What are the Assessment Reports?

• IPCC Assessment reports are comprehensive evaluations of the state of the earth’s climate. It is a compilation of scientific information produced as a result of research conducted by various scientists and environmentalists.
• Each IPCC Assessment report undergoes a rigorous review process, including review by hundreds of experts, governments, and stakeholders, to ensure that it is based on the most up-to-date and accurate information available.
• IPCC reports are the basis of the policy responses taken by the countries. They form part of the direction to be taken by countries individually and collectively.

To date, IPCC has published 6 assessment reports with AR-6 being the latest one.

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Yojna IAS daily current affairs eng med 21st March 2023

Mohit Pratap Singh