Atlas of human suffering: IPCC report

Atlas of human suffering: IPCC report

TOPIC: Environment

Context- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the climate science body of the United Nations, published the second instalment of its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) February 28, 2022. It focuses on the effects of climate change on ecosystems and society.

Concept-

Some of its key takeaways:

• Most populated regions at high risk: Cities — which house more than half of the world’s population — are at the highest risk from climate change.
• Poor most hurt: Low-income populations face the largest gap in adaptation action, in terms of what is happening versus what is needed.
• Some changes irreversible: Some climate change-driven losses, such as the extinction of species, are irreversible. Others include the retreat of glaciers and thawing of permafrost, particularly in the Arctic region.
• Impact on health, food, agriculture: Human society will increasingly face heat stress, water scarcity, threats to food security and flood risks as the crisis worsens. At 2°C of warming, people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Small Island Developing States will face severe food shortages and malnutrition.

Solutions available:

• The report recommended harnessing the adaptive strengths of nature through measures like:
  • Agroforestry
  • Conservation, protection and restoration of natural forests
  • Planting of diverse tree species to withstand climate impacts.
  • Adopting rainwater storage and other water-saving technologies can help combat groundwater depletion in agriculture.
  • Food security can be enhanced by adopting stress-tolerant crops and livestock, promoting community-based adaptation that is locally driven.
  • Cities can use nature-based engineering approaches like establishing parks, green corridors, and urban agriculture. And expanded social safety nets will help with disaster management.