First off… how are you? How are you doing? If you’ve read the report or the deluge of headlines, infographics, and tweets about the report, you’re probably feeling a bit — gloomy.
Take some time to journal, pray, meditate, get out in nature… whatever calms you- this stuff is heavy.
As I write this, I can relate. After reading the report and realizing my work ahead of summarizing its findings while giving people a sense of hope for the future and empowering them with actionable steps to take, I decided I needed my (second) coffee for the day.
Luckily, I had recently heard that Starbucks is again accepting reusable cups and through the 16th of August is running a program with The Ocean Conservancy where they donate $1 to the organization for every reusable cup that is brought in!
I hopped on over to Starbs expecting a fruitful writing session and the fulfilling reward of finally getting my reusable cup accepted. But as I asked the workers about the program and the return to reusables, I was met with blank faces. The best they could do, they said, was to give me my coffee in a regular Starbucks cup which I could then pour into my own reusable. What. A. Bummer.
Although the problems outlined in the latest IPCC report are far more severe than Starbucks not accepting my cup, this experience was a kick in my already-sick-from-climate-doom stomach.
Thanks for bearing through that intro. Maybe it was tedious… but gosh did I need it. Now, what you came here for- a deep dive into the latest IPCC 2021 Report. Let’s start with the basics.
A Background
So what even is the IPCC? Great question that I fear far too many people have shied away from asking.
IPCC stands for The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization in order to provide policymakers with “regular scientific assessments on the current state of knowledge about climate change”.
Since its inception, the organization has had five assessment cycles (with five assessment reports). This sixth assessment cycle includes three Special Reports, the first of which came out yesterday and focuses on a physical understanding of the climate system.
These reports stick to reporting scientific findings without recommending specific policies, which is important to note.
Findings in this report have been compiled and reviewed by 234 scientists from all over the world. Here are (some) of the main takeaways.
Main Takeaways
Note that the takeaways I am including in this blog post do not include any of the facts or trends that you have probably seen in news articles. Maybe this is hasty of me, but I’m assuming that if you are here you already believe in climate change and are in fact very worried about the observed and unobserved consequences that it poses for our planet and its people. So I don’t want to reiterate any of the fear-inducing facts you have already read about.
Instead, I’ll focus on what the report says specifically regarding global progress on goals from the Paris Climate Accord.
Earth is approaching the watershed mark of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures a decade earlier than projected in the 2013 IPCC report.
Scientists have said that our current trajectory of emissions makes certain that we will exceed the mark of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures, BUT only if DRASTIC action is taken and if the world can reach net zero global emissions before 2050.
Five possible future emissions scenarios are outlined in the report. The current trajectory of emissions renders a rise of temperature by about 2.7 degrees by the end of the century.
What Are We Supposed to Do with This Info?
Yeah, very valid question.
Let’s remember that it is the onus of policymakers and corporations to make the changes required for drastic climate action. As honorable as it is, using a reusable straw isn’t going to save us from that above 1.5 degrees C increase.
I hope to expand this section into an e-book, downloadable, or long-form (separate) blog post. I think it’s so important that we not only know the facts but also realize the need and opportunity for change and take the steps necessary to instigate that change.
The Need for Policy
Policy is simply one of the most effective and sweeping ways to implement the changes we need. It is difficult to monitor and pinpoint all of the climate legislation circulating around- but it is important to know of and advocate for specific policies and legislation.
Below is a letter template that you can send to any and all of your representatives.
A Letter to Policymakers
Dear _______,
My name is _____ and I am a constituent of yours from _____. I am writing with urgency to implore you to read the recent findings compiled and reviewed by over 230 scientists, otherwise known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report. This report details the pressing need for climate action in order to protect the health of current and future generations as well as to mitigate the intensifying destructive impacts of climate change.
After reading this report, people from all over the world are calling on policymakers and corporations to take drastic action.
Specific legislation that I am asking you to support include:
- Not taking funding from any fossil fuel or extractive companies- signing the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge
- Reading and supporting the policy proposals outlined in the Solving the Climate Crisis: Congressional Action Plan
- Supporting a legally binding net-zero emissions commitment for the United States, similar to that of several countries in the E.U.
- Supporting the Civilian Climate Corps (S1057)
- Supporting the CLEAN Future Act (HR1512)
Neglecting to do so dishonors the office you were elected to serve.
The consequences of ignoring the findings in this report are too severe. As your constituent, I urge you to take action.
Best,
________
You can find your representatives’ contact info HERE and senators’ contact info HERE.
Voting… Obviously
I talk about the importance of voting with both your dollar and your ballot all the time.
One thing that I’m personally working on (and would love to work on TOGETHER!) is putting my money in a bank that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels.
A recent report found that the 60 largest commercial and investment banks have collectively financed $3.8 trillion in fossil fuel companies between 2016 and 2020. Ew.
So aside from making conscious purchases that consider the impact of a product on the planet and its people, I’m working on putting my money literally where my mouth is and switching banks. Consider doing the same!
Other Helpful Resources
I wanted to share some helpful and concise explanations of the report. Some of these focus on unpacking the figures around climate sensitivity, while others focus on how the report talks about regional consequences of climate change.