The dangers of the effect of global warming have never been more clear, and the need for action to address the problem more necessary, than it is at this time in history, warns a new United Nations climate report issued yesterday.
“2022: Mitigation of Climate Change” shows the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), indicating harmful carbon emissions from 2010-2019 have never been higher in human history. That’s proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster, says António Guterres, UN secretary-general. Scientists argue it’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Unless actions are taken quickly, major cities will be under water in the near future, Guterres says, adding that based on the report, there is a likelihood of “unprecedented heatwaves, terrifying storms, widespread water shortages and the extinction of a million species of plants and animals.”
Children Believe has already been offering support to frequent natural disasters, such as cyclones in India and droughts in Ethiopia.
The IPCC insists all countries must reduce fossil fuel use substantially, extend access to electricity, improve energy efficiency and increase the use of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen. Providing the scientific proof to back up their assessments, the IPCC report — written by hundreds of leading scientists and agreed by 195 countries — noted that greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity, have increased since 2010 “across all major sectors globally.”
A rising amount of emissions has been found in connection to towns and cities, the report adds. Scientists believe emissions reductions made in the last 10 years “have been less than emissions increases, from rising global activity levels in industry, energy supply, transport, agriculture and buildings.”
There was an optimistic outlook that it is still possible to halve emissions by 2030, but the IPCC urged governments to take seriously their actions to reduce emissions to do so.
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