Climate Adaptation and Developing Resilience Discussed in IPCC AR6

The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) is, so far, the most comprehensive review of the state of climate change since IPCC’s establishment in 1988.

The report updates the 2014 report (AR5) and contains seven years of peer-reviewed scientific research.

The IPCC is the foremost authority on climate science internationally, and its releases Assessment Reports every five to eight years.

The IPCC reports “provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations” (About the IPCC, n.d.).

Since the IPCC’s inception, their reports have been an impetus for climate action and have significantly influenced international agreements.

“Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability” is the latest contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report by the IPCC’s Working Group 2 (WGII).

Published on 28 February 2022, it deals with “the impacts of climate change in our ecosystem, biodiversity and human communities at a global and regional level. It also reviews the vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change.”

Was there an IPCC report released before the Climate Change 2022 report?

Yes, the Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis that the Working Group I (WGI) contributed and released on 9 August 2021.

The 2021 report focuses on the most current understanding of the past, present, and future changes to our planet from global warming. It states that climate change affects all parts of the earth, and it clearly and undoubtedly points to human activities as its cause.

The next IPCC AR6 report is scheduled to be published in April 2022. It will focus on climate change mitigation or methods to reduce GHG emissions and remove them from the atmosphere. These three assessment reports from the IPCC bring the best available science to all governments.

What are the key takeaways for policymakers and governments from the Working Groups contribution report?

The “Summary for Policymakers Headline Statements” gives a concise overview of the report findings and can guide climate adaptation priority.

It enumerates critical findings on the following:

• Observed and Projected Impacts and Risks. Around 3.3 to 3.6 billion people whose living context and conditions are highly vulnerable to climate change. When the temperature rise reaches 1.5C, it will increase climate hazards to people, species, and the ecosystem. The report identifies 127 key risks, and their impacts will be rising in the mid-term and long-term than anticipated. However, climate adaptation and the speed of GHG emissions will determine the severity of climate change impacts.

• Current Adaptation and its Benefits. The implementation of climate adaptation has generated multiple benefits. However, climate adaptation is unevenly discretion with observed adaption gaps. Many prefer immediate climate risk reduction instead of focusing on transformational adaptation, which is more impactful and can bring long-term benefits.

• Climate Resilient Development. Observed impacts, projected risks, vulnerability, and adaptation limits show that climate-resilient development needs urgent attention. Climate-resilient development is more effective when it is inclusive and integrate all levels and sectors of government and society, especially the indigenous people, marginalised, women, youth, and ethnic minority.

Urban planning that integrates the social, environmental, and grey infrastructure can increase the climate adaptation capacity of urban and rural communities.

Global trends in urbanisation and coastal cities can also offer a critical opportunity to advance climate-resilient development.

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