The climate news last week was dominated by the latest report release from the IPCC. This is essential reading, really for everyone. Why? Because it illustrates the nearing impossibility of achieving “A liveable and sustainable future for all”. This is existential, in case you hadn’t realized.
The IPCC assessment, which is based on 34,000 studies, shows “widespread and pervasive” impacts on people and the natural world - heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and floods. All faster than scientists had thought.
The good news is that a liveable future remains possible – but only just and the door for action is “rapidly closing”. It also sets out strongly that the climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people.
“Targeting a climate resilient, sustainable world involves fundamental changes to how society functions, including changes to underlying values, world-views, ideologies, social structures, political and economic systems, and power relationships,” the report’s authors said in an accompanying document. “This may feel overwhelming at first, but the world is changing anyway – climate-resilient development offers us ways to drive change to improve wellbeing for all.”
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.