An overview of the report

By Abdoul M. Savage | 5 December 2023

Here, RENEWAL NEWS NETWORK provides an overview of the recently released "Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report." This document is a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of all the information currently available on climate change, including its wide-ranging effects, ubiquitous risks, and adaptation tactics. Based on a body of peer-reviewed scientific, technical, and socioeconomic literature, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have been assiduously working on this challenging issue since the publication of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (ARS) in 2014.

The report offers a scientific foundation for the current COP28 as well as the Global Stocktake, an evaluation tool for the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The study asserts that consistent temperature increases of 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level have led to more frequent and dangerous weather events that have caused increasing devastation to people and the planet. The study also restates the claim that human activity alone has been the only cause of global warming since 1850.

The report serves as a reminder that more extreme weather events will occur as temperatures rise. The report highlights the critical actions that must be taken by all individuals, across all sectors, and at all levels, and demonstrates that the 1.5-degree Celsius target is still attainable.

The report underscores the pressing necessity of taking immediate action to prioritise development that is climate-resilient and considers climate justice. It demonstrates how any community can adopt best practises, suitable technology, effective laws, and sufficient funding to decrease or completely eradicate the use of carbon-intensive consumption methods. There will be significant positive effects on well-being if low-income and marginalised communities prioritise lowering climate risk. 

The report is divided into four main sections: A broad overview of the state of the climate system today, human influence on it, and possible future consequences based on greenhouse gas emissions are provided in Section A. It assesses both observed and predicted variations in temperature, precipitation, ice, snow, permafrost, ocean acidification, and extreme weather, in addition to sea level. It highlights the advantages of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or less, as well as the growing threats and effects of climate change on natural and human systems.

Section B evaluates the possibility of adaptation and mitigation to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. In accordance with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, it evaluates the present and anticipated emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, as well as the costs and advantages of mitigation measures. Additionally, it evaluates the options, constraints, and barriers associated with adaptation, as well as the trade-offs and synergies between adaptation and mitigation. To improve the efficacy and equity of climate action, it emphasises the significance of collaboration, coordination, and transformation at all levels and scales.

The main conclusions of the report are outlined in Section C, along with their implications for human rights, equity, ending poverty, and sustainable development. "It identifies the key evolving conditions and drivers for achieving a low-carbon and climate-resilient future, such as governance, innovation, behaviour change, education, and empowerment," the statement reads. "It also analyses the potential for co-benefits and trade-offs between climate action and other development goals."

Based on the most recent research and risk management theories, Section D provides an outlook for the future of climate change and suggests potential remedies. It draws attention to the unanswered questions and knowledge gaps that still exist, as well as the opportunities and top research priorities to address them. It also offers recommendations on how stakeholders and decision-makers should monitor and assess the results and progress, as well as how to use the report and findings to support and guide their actions.

The report concludes that unprecedented and urgent action is required to avert the worst effects of climate change and suggests that such action can have numerous positive effects on the environment and human well-being. "It also urges for a just and inclusive transition that respects and protects the rights and dignity of all," the statement reads. It also calls for a global effort to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century and to improve resilience and adaptation to the changing climate.   

RENEWAL NEWS NETWORK brings you a glossary of some commonly used terms associated with climate change:

• ADAPTATION: The process of adjusting to the current or predicted climate and its effects in order to minimise harm or take advantage of beneficial opportunities. 
• ANTHROPOGENIC: Caused by humanity or human activity; man-made/ woman-made. (For example, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have significantly increased global warming since 1850, when proper industrialisation was believed to have started.)
• BIODIVERSITY: The diversity of life on Earth, encompassing the range of genes, species, ecosystems, and the ecological processes that sustain them. 
• BIOFUEL: The fuel that is made directly from living matter. (Examples: Ethanol, Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Bio-ethers, Wood, Biohydrogen, Biogas, et cetera.)
• CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2): is a gas that exists naturally and is produced as a byproduct of burning biomass and fossil fuels, altering land use, and other industrial processes. It is the primary man-made/ woman-made greenhouse gas that modifies the radiative balance of the Earth.
• CARBON FOOTPRINT: The entire quantity of greenhouse gases released by a person, group, activity, occasion, or item. 
• CLIMATE CHANGE: Is the long-term alteration of the Earth’s climate system, including variations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other factors.
• DECARBONIZATION: Is the process of reducing or stopping carbon dioxide emissions associated with a country’s economy.   
• DEFORESTATION: is the process by which forested land is transformed into non-forested land, typically because of human endeavours like mining, logging, agriculture, or urban growth. Deforestation releases CO2 into the atmosphere and decreases the amount of carbon stored in soil and trees.
• EMISSIONS: The release of gases (usually greenhouse gases and/or their precursors) into the atmosphere over a specified area and period.
• ECOSYSTEM: A group or community of interdependent living things and inanimate objects that make up their habitat.
• FEEDBACK: Is the process by which a change to one part of a system impacts another part, which in turn impacts the first part, and so on. Positive feedback enlarges the original change, while negative feedback reduces it.
• FOSSIL FUELS: Natural fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas that come from the remains of ancient plants and animals. 
• GLOBAL WARMING: The recent and continuing increase in the average global surface temperature. 
• GREENHOUSE EFFECT: The natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the sun’s energy, warming the Earth and making life possible. The average temperature of Earth would be around -18°C if the greenhouse effect did not exist. Because of human activity, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased, amplifying the greenhouse effect and hastening the onset of global warming.
• GREENHOUSE GASES: are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.
• HYDROFLUOROCARBONS (HFCs): These are man-made/ woman-made greenhouse gases used in air conditioning, refrigeration, foam blowing, and aerosols.