The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the “Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report” on March 20, 2023. This sweeping report summarizes the losses and damage we are experiencing due to climate change, as well as the impact we can expect in the future.
The report is quite dense, so let’s take a quick look at some of the most important details we should all understand.
The Bad News: The earth is still warming
The IPCC report shows that temperatures have already reached 1.1 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels due to all the fossil fuels, unsustainable land use, and other damaging activities. We are still on track to pass 1.5 degrees Celcius of warming by the early 2030s.
Why does this warming matter? With each additional half-degree of warming, we increase the risk of flooding, deadly heat waves, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and other devastating impacts. Experts already see these consequences on every continent.
Food and water insecurity also increase as global temperatures rise. This can lead to other consequences like war, health crises, and political instability.
The Good News: We’ve made progress
It might not seem like there is any good news to be found in the report. But, we have made progress! The IPCC was born in 1985 when 89 scientists from 29 countries gathered to discuss the emerging evidence that climate change was human-caused.
Since 1985, every major international climate agreement was built on the foundation and findings of the IPCC. This includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1990 and the Paris Accords in 2015.
In just 30 years, the IPCC worked to establish scientific consensus around climate change and increased public awareness. The IPCC also aligned 198 governments around policies and agendas to combat climate change. This is no small feat.
Increased Decarbonization
The IPCC report emphasized that catastrophe is not inevitable–we do still have time to act! If we implement the right changes soon, one IPCC report author indicates that temperatures could stabilize within two decades.
Many countries are accelerating decarbonization efforts. Clean energy is becoming more viable and affordable.
Government efforts are critical to slashing carbon emissions. Governments can pass laws and regulations that speed the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The biggest contributor to climate change continues to be our dependency on (or addiction to) fossil fuels. Governments must commit to more sustainable energy sources.
But there doesn’t seem to be a unified commitment to reducing fossil fuel consumption. On the one hand, China and India say they plan to reach net zero in the year 2060 and 2070, respectively. On the other hand, the US recently greenlit the controversial Willow oil drilling project in Alaska.
Still, there is increased momentum from global leaders committed to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change.
What Does This Mean for Me?
These reports can be dense and difficult to slog through. It can also be difficult to discern what is being sensationalized and pick out the facts. The real question we can all ask is, “What does this mean for me?”
Embrace our inescapable network of mutuality
Sadly, climate change disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. As fish populations dwindle, farms become less productive, infectious diseases spread more quickly, and weather disasters escalate, the poor, food-insecure, and elderly are the first to fall prey to climate change.
The first thing we can do is acknowledge our respective level of privilege. The harsh truth is the more privileged we are, the less likely we are to experience (or fear) the effects of climate change.
For example, if we do not rely on subsistence farming or fishing to provide for our families, we can easily turn a blind eye toward these threats. If we live a comfortable life with adequate income and insurance, we are less likely to fear the economic and physical devastation of natural disasters. We are more likely to believe that we can rebuild our lives.
The quote from Dr. Martin Luther King comes to mind,
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Of course, Dr. King was referencing the evils of racism, but the truth extends to the horrors of climate change, too. Our first call is for each of us to acknowledge and embrace our inescapable network of mutuality. Where there is climate change anywhere, it is a threat to all of humanity. We are in this together, whether we feel it now or not.
Choose one small change and commit
The second thing we can do is embrace the truth that small changes make big impacts. April 22, 2023, is Earth Day. I would like to invite you to commit to making one small, sustainable change this month toward caring for our planet–in honor of Earth Day and in response to this IPCC report.
Here are some ideas of small actions or changes you can make:
- Reduce your energy consumption by turning off all the lights when you’re not using them.
- Take the stairs whenever possible–skipping the elevator or escalator reduces energy consumption, and it’s good for your health!
- Take shorter showers
- Power down electronics and unplug them when you’re not using them
- Only do full loads of laundry
- Switch to LED light bulbs
- Keep your heat or air conditioner at moderate settings throughout the year
- Turn off your climate control system and open the windows when the weather permits
- Increase your recycling efforts
- Conserve paper by enrolling in electronic billing/invoicing
- Carpool to school/work to reduce fuel consumption
There are many more small actions we can all take to help curb climate change. Remember, we are in an inescapable network of mutuality. We must all live on this planet together–and we must work together to care for it.
Hold our leaders accountable
In the United States, we have the unique privilege of voicing our opinion to our government leaders–at the city, state, and national levels.
Consider committing one hour each month to learning about regulations and laws in your city and state that relate to climate care. Learn who your leaders and representatives are, and use your voice to advocate for legislation that protects our planet.
Here are a few resources and links to help you get started:
- To identify your members of Congress, visit: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
- To find out who represents you in state legislatures, visit: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
- Environmental America is a good resource for environmental news and calls to action: https://environmentamerica.org/
- Choose one or two trustworthy news sites and read about environmental legislation and news stories.
The IPCC report does include alarming information, but all is not lost. Will you join me this month in taking one defiant action against climate change?
