IPCC’s 1.5°C Report implies urgent, ambitious climate action that puts vulnerable people first

CDKN today welcomes the launch of the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C and applauds the Special Report’s clear statement that it is viable to limit warming to well below 2°C, and as close as possible to 1.5°C, as stated in the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.

The Special Report signals to policy-makers that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is possible but incredibly tough, and will require precipitous emissions reductions by 2030, falling to ‘net zero’ emissions worldwide by mid-century at the latest. If emissions continue at present rates, 1.5°C of warming will be exceeded between 2030 and 2052.

CDKN also welcomes the Special Report’s careful analysis of the differences in climate impacts between today’s world, which is already 1°C warmer than preindustrial times, and scenarios where the world is 1.5°C or 2°C warmer.

At 1.5°C average global warming the “impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, including species loss and extinction, are projected to be lower” compared to 2°C, says the Special Report. Sea level rise is projected to be 10cm less at 1.5°C compared to 2°C, and this would provide greater chances for people and ecosystems to adapt – especially in small islands and low-lying delta areas. In some regions, droughts and the heavy rainfall associated with cyclones will be lower at 1.5°C than at two degrees.

Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, some indigenous peoples, and local communities dependent on agricultural and coastal livelihoods will be at the forefront of climate impacts at 1.5°C of warming and beyond.

“The IPCC’s 1.5°C Special Report provides vital clarity on the benefits of limiting warming to 1.5°C – and the reduced risks, in particular, to the most climate-vulnerable people,” said Shehnaaz Moosa, CDKN Director. “The Special Report’s messages must now compel ambitious action for a net zero world by mid-century.”

Also of serious concern, the IPCC alerts policy-makers to the potential risks of some climate mitigation actions for disadvantaged populations. CDKN finds that the Special Report’s most important contribution is its framing of integrated climate adaptation and mitigation action in the context of sustainable development.

“The Special Report places an onus on decision-makers to assess climate mitigation options carefully for their impacts on the poorest,” continued Dr Moosa. “The 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind’ must steer our approach to reforestation, climate smart agriculture, clean energy and industrial systems, revitalised coastal ecosystems and net-zero, resilient cities; the good news is that valuable lessons learned by CDKN and other knowledge programmes provide a basis for scaling up best practice.”

Emani Kumar, Regional Director of CDKN Asia, added:

"The IPCC’s 1.5°C Special Report finds that technological innovation has a role in meeting the 1.5°C goal, but some of the greatest barriers to effective, equitable action on climate change are socio-cultural, market, and economic barriers. The report also acknowledges the key role of climate finance and its effective distribution and monitoring. The implication is that cities and countries – in Asia and worldwide – will have to co-create collaborative governance systems, giving space and voice to all, and identify nature-based resilient solutions, while encouraging circular economy and adopting sustainable procurement practices."

Marianela Curi, Regional Director of CDKN Latin America, said:

“From a Latin American perspective, the Special Report highlights the region’s urgent need to make a transition in land use, toward more sustainable systems. We concur with the IPCC’s conclusions that 'such large transitions pose profound challenges for sustainable management of the various demands on land for human settlements, food, livestock feed, fibre, bioenergy, carbon storage, biodiversity and other ecosystem services.' We also recognise that such options are often limited by institutional, environmental and socio-cultural feasibility. In our experience, these constraints can be overcome. More than ever before, we must learn quickly from our experiences to move forward and rise to the common challenge of people-centred, environmentally sound, climate-compatible development.”