The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report In 5 Minutes
Key Takeaways From The UN’s Most Detailed Climate Assessment
Yesterday, the IPCC unveiled their Sixth Assessment Report: The Physical Science Basis. A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries are behind the first chapter of the report, which draws on 14,000 research papers to come up with conclusions on how the Earth’s climate is changing as a result of human activity.
Whilst the messages of this report remain the same as previous IPCC reports, the urgency is greater. In a period of heatwaves, wildfires, and flooding, and in the midst of preparations for COP26, this report could come at no better time.
The IPCC report is not short on words, but I’ve compiled the key takeaways from this important publication for those short on time. For those in the same ‘climate nerd club’ as myself, the full report can be downloaded here.
1. The human influence on the climate crisis is crystal clear.
The summary of the report begins with a clear opening message: “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” This warming has occurred at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last 2000 years.
