Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Part of: Prelims and GS-III Environment 

Context: According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C.

• Even temporarily exceeding this warming level would mean additional, severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible.

Key highlights of the report

• Human-induced climate change, including more frequent and intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts and damage to nature and people. 
• Some development and adaptation efforts have reduced vulnerability. 
• Across sectors and regions, the most vulnerable people and systems are observed to be disproportionately affected. 
• The rise in weather and climate extremes have led to some irreversible impacts as natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt.

Wet-bulb temperature 

• Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure.
• According to the report, Lucknow and Patna are among the cities predicted to reach wet-bulb temperature of 35°C if emissions continued to rise. 
• Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Mumbai, Indore, and Ahmedabad are identified as at risk of reaching wet-bulb temperatures of 32-34°C with continued emissions. 
• Overall, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab will be the most severely affected.
• But if emissions keep rising, all States will have regions that experience wet-bulb temperatures of 30°C or more by the end of the century.

What is Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)? 

• It is an international body set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with 
  • Regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change
  • Impacts and future risks associated with Climate Change
  • Options for adaptation and mitigation for Climate Change
• Membership of the IPCC is open to all members of the WMO and the UNEP.
• IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for governments at all levels to develop climate-related policies and also underlie climate negotiation at International level.
• The main objective of UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

News Source: TH