The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group III

The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group III

Part of: Prelims and GS III – Environment 

Context: A consortium of scientists as part of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently said that all coal-fired power plants, without the technology to capture and store carbon (CCS), need to be closed by 2050 if the world aspired to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

• Besides, limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector and this will mean
  • drastically reducing fossil fuel use, 
  • widespread electrification, 
  • improved energy efficiency, and 
  • use of alternative fuels.
• According to the scientists, limiting warming to around 1.5 degrees Celsius requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest and be reduced by 43% by 2030; at the same time, methane would also need to be reduced by about a third. 

Do you know?

• According to the Central Electricity Authority, India has about 211 GW of operational coal-fired power plants — roughly 10% of global capacity. 
• As per Global Energy Monitor data, another 31 GW was being constructed and about 24 GW in various pre-construction phases. 
• None of the existing under construction coal-fired power plants in India have CCS facilities.

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