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IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report shows need for transformational action from world leaders now

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Workers monitor wind turbines in Chile. Governments must rapidly introduce policies and measures to spur the clean energy transformation and reduce emissions by at least 45% by 2030. Photo by Tamara Merino for IMF on flickr.
Workers monitor wind turbines in Chile. Governments must rapidly introduce policies and measures to spur the clean energy transition and reduce emissions by at least 45% by 2030. Photo by Tamara Merino for IMF on flickr.
  • Today the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have published the Synthesis Report of its sixth assessment cycle.  
  • Only a very small window remains to keep global warming below 1.5˚C and it is closing rapidly. Climate impacts will become even more severe and drastically impact societies worldwide. 
  • Governments must rapidly introduce policies and measures to reduce emissions by at least 45% by 2030, while urgently stepping up support for vulnerable countries to manage the impacts of climate change. 

Story 

Approved by every government and aimed at policymakers around the world, the IPCC Synthesis Report represents the gold-standard consensus in scientists’ understanding of the state of climate science. It clearly sets out the actions needed from governments and business to limit global warming and adapt to its impacts. 

It is now on to governments and businesses to deliver an adequate response to this state of affairs. This will require a dramatic step-up in action to reduce emissions and rapidly scaling-up efforts to ensure resilience to climate impacts. Key to enabling this will be steps to unlock greater finance for climate action, including through shaping up the global financial system so it delivers for the challenge of climate change.  

Quotes 

Alden Meyer, Senior Associate, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics said: 

“This report confirms what we already know: we are seriously off track from meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. In the run-up to December’s COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai, leaders, ministers, and negotiators must work together to speed up the end of the fossil fuel era, strengthen climate resilience, help vulnerable communities cope with mounting climate impacts, and unlock much greater sums of money for climate action.

 

The good news in this report is that we can still course-correct Spaceship Earth onto a more sustainable, prosperous path. But there is no more time to lose.”

Alex Scott, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics said: 

“This is a wake-up call for finance ministers and the heads of our global finance institutions. Today’s financial system is totally unfit for the climate crisis. Investments in fossil fuels – and lack of capital for clean solutions and climate defences – are making economies, as well as our natural systems, highly vulnerable. 

 

We need a system that can close the trillions-heavy climate financing gap and secure countries’ financial stability in the face of economic and climate shocks. This should be top of the to-do list for the new World Bank president, world leaders gathering at June’s Financing Pact Summit, and G20 finance ministers who hold the purse strings at global development banks.”

Leo Roberts, Programme Lead, Fossil Fuel Transitions, said: 

“The latest IPCC report reiterates that ending coal power is the single most impactful step away from runaway climate change.

 

The world outside China is rapidly moving towards scrapping all remaining plans for new coal power stations, but a renewed coal boom in China is bucking the global trend – with global climate consequences and domestic economic risks. All countries, including China, must urgently accelerate efforts to phase out their operating coal power fleets, and ramp up clean energy investments.”

Elisa Giannelli, Senior Policy Advisor, EU politics, said: 

“This report could not be timelier to forge solid EU climate leadership. European ministers agreed this month to promote global fossil fuel phase-out ahead of COP28 and the European Commission is preparing the EU’s post-2030 climate targets. The EU must harness this momentum to align its climate trajectory with the latest science and new pledges as a ‘first mover’ — showing credible leadership at home and leveraging its position abroad.” 

Ines Benomar, Researcher, Risk & Resilience, said: 

“Every country, rich and poor, will be harmed by continued warming. But vulnerable economies are on a knife edge. Leaders must respond to these findings with bold and transformative steps today, to properly fund efforts to reduce climate impacts for frontline communities. Without action to strengthen climate resilience, warming will force tens of millions more people into extreme poverty. The clock is ticking.”  

Steffen Menzel, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, said: 

“Der IPCC bekräftigt einmal mehr, dass wir noch schneller und besser bei der Dekarbonisierung werden müssen. Das heißt: keine Investitionen in Kohle, Öl, und Gas, weder in Deutschland noch in Partnerländern und keine politischen Alleingänge zum Schutze nicht tragfähiger Technologien wie dem Verbrenner in PKW. Stattdessen braucht es Investitionen in verlässliche klimafreundliche Technologien und Lieferketten. Allein schon im eigenen Interesse muss Deutschland Vorbild und verlässlicher Partner für eine gemeinsame und gerechte globale Klimawende sein.” 

Available for comment 

Alex Scott (EN), E3G Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics 
alex.scott@e3g.org  +44 (0)7482 750 760  

Alden Meyer (EN), E3G Senior Associate, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics 
Alden.meyer@e3g.org  +1 202 378 8619 

Elisa Giannelli (EN, IT, FR), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, EU politics 
Elisa.giannelli@e3g.org  +32 (0) 4945848 29 

Steffen Menzel (DE), E3G Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics 
Steffen.menzerl@e3g.org  +49 151 51201182 

Ines Benomar (EN, FR) E3G Researcher, Risk & Resilience (GMT/CET time zone) 
ines.benomar@e3g.org  +32 (0) 490 11 33 19 

Oliver Smith (EN), E3G Researcher, Risk & Resilience (ET time zone) 
Oliver.smith@e3g.org    

Notes to Editors 

  1. E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. About – E3G 
  2. For further enquiries email press@e3g.org or phone +44 (0)7783 787 863 

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