Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change known as the IPCC, the authoritative body of scientists responsible for researching and assessing the science related to climate change, published the Sixth Assessment Report On Climate Change.
They declare authoritatively, for the first time, that observed changes in global climate over the last 200+ years is caused by humans.
So, there it is: the world has warmed due to human activity and it will continue to do so unless urgent action is taken.
So what is required, of me and you, and developed countries?
We spoke to Shayna Young, the Senior Climatologist, National Meteorological Service about the report:
Shayna Young, Senior Climatologist, Nat'l Met. Svc.
"One of the primary findings on this last report is that climate change is human cause. So that is one of the resounding findings in this particular report and it also highlighted what was previously found in past IPPC assessment reports which is the special report on 1.5. It just basically reiterated what was already found and also new information has been gathered. There has also been an update in the methodology that was used in assessing the observations to determine the level of warming that has occurred, but basically currently at where we are is that there has been global warming, the earth and the climate system is getting warmer and currently we are at 1.1 degrees of warming. So the special report on 1.5 was basically indicated that it's in our best interest to limit global warming to 1.5 and this has been one of the reports that was the foundation for the Paris agreement of which majority of the governments around the world has signed on to and later on this year again, governments and also policy makers will be meeting to discuss COP26 and this report that has been release will be one of the major reports that will be looked at and considered by policy makers in that COP later on in November this year."
"Currently we are at 1.2 and if we don't reduce our carbon footprints and also carbon emissions, we stand a chance of surpassing that 1.5 degrees by 2050. So basically, we have up until 2050 to reduce our carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, so that we can achieve net zero. Net zero is like a balance equilibrium to CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to the warming we have already experience and also will continue to experience if we don't limit our greenhouse gas emissions and also our carbon footprint."
"Currently even with the lowest emission scenario which is SSB1.9 there is the possibility that we might reach and slightly exceed 1.5 degrees by the year 2050, so even with the lowest possible emission scenarios it is possible, but achieving and attaining 1.5 degrees of global warming is still within reach and so if we do what is right, reduce our carbon emissions then we don't necessarily have to surpass 1.5 and even reach 2 or some of the higher degrees of warming based on the other scenarios of climate change."
Young also told us that for us in the Caribbean one major and dire side effect of climate change will be an increase in the frequency of hurricanes.
