The IPCC Synthesis Report on climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is out and it sets very ambitious goals for mankind.
This new report from United Nations investigators combines research conducted during three previous studies. It was adopted following an all-night meeting of IPCC officials that concluded on November 1.
"Surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century under all assessed emission scenarios. It is very likely that heat waves will occur more often and last longer, and that extreme precipitation events will become more intense and frequent in many regions. The ocean will continue to warm and acidify, and global mean sea level to rise," the IPCC report predicts.
"By 2100... the combination of high temperature and humidity in some areas for parts of the year is expected to compromise common human activities, including growing food and working outdoors," it reads.
The report highlights how warming and sea level rise will continue for centuries beyond 2100 even after cessation of CO2 emissions. While there will come a time when temperature will stabilize, there is no guarantee that there will be stabilization of the climate system.
The IPCC produces a comprehensive report on the environment about once every six years. This fifth assessment report is the most detailed, and complete, report completed by the group to date. Developers of the statement will likely announce in the document that global temperatures could rise between 6.6 and 8.6 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century if current trends continue.
The latest IPCC report bluntly states the need for mankind to stop depending on fossil fuel. Fossil fuel being responsible for 78 percent of greenhouse gas emissions between 1970 to 2010.
The IPCC report emphasizes the need to switch to greener energy, if possible depending on renewable energy for 80 percent of needs by 2050 and phasing out fossil fuel by 2100.
"It's very clear from the report that fossil fuels have had their day," said Arthur Petersen, University College London professor. "Of course it is up to politicians to decide which risks they want to take with climate change, so it is not policy prescriptive in saying that these reductions should take place, but it is absolutely clear that the reductions should take place if you want to limit (temperature increases) to 2C."
Again, there are goals to help combat the effects of climate change but in the end it will be a big debate whether focus will be on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions or if humanity should continue its push for economic progress.
