Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Why in news?

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its Sixth Assessment Report, titled “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis”

Key findings of the Sixth Assessment Report:

• The report states that human activities are causing climate change, and the planet is irrevocably headed towards warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times in the next two decades.
• The report predicts that based on existing commitments by countries to curb their emission, the world is on track for global temperature warming by at least 2.7°C by 2100, calling it ‘code red for humanity’.
• The report also mentions that unless extremely deep emission cuts are undertaken by all countries immediately, the 2015 Paris Agreement goals are unlikely to be met.
• The report recommended that countries should strive to achieve net-zero emissions — no additional greenhouse gases are emitted — by 2050.
• IPCC in its report also confirmed that, Indian Ocean was warming at a rate higher than other oceans.
• The report also states that warming of Indian ocean will result into rise in sea levels causing more frequent and severe coastal flooding across low-level areas.
• It will also result into intense and frequent heat waves and humid heat stress in the 21st century in South Asia.

About IPCC

• IPCC is an intergovernmental body of United Nations (UN).
• It provides objective scientific information in order to understand human-induced climate change, its natural, political & economic impacts and possible response options.
• It was established by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.
• It was endorsed by United Nations General Assembly later.
• Membership to IPCC is open for all the members of the WMO and UN.
• IPCC does not carry out original research. It does not monitor climate or related phenomena itself. However, it conducts a systematic review of published literature and then produces a comprehensive assessment report.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by:

(a) United Nations Development Programme

(b) International Union for Conservation of Nature

(c) World Wide Fund for Nature

(d) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNEP

Answer