Climate scientists warn that human activity is causing changes in the Earth's climate that are unprecedented in thousands, hundreds, or even thousands of years. Some of these changes are now certain and irreversible.Over the next 20 years, temperatures will rise by more that 1.5C above preindustrial levels. This is contrary to the 2015 Paris climate accord and could lead to widespread destruction and extreme weather.According to the International Panel on Climate Change (the world's foremost authority on climate science), only drastic and rapid reductions in greenhouse gasses in the next decade will prevent climate collapse.Eight years have passed since the IPCC's sixth comprehensive assessment of climate science was published. It combines the efforts of hundreds of scientists and peer-review studies. This report represents the complete knowledge of the physical basis for climate change and includes the findings that humans are responsible for rapid climate changes, such as sea level rises, melting of polar ice glaciers and heatwaves.Leaders around the world said that the shocking findings should force them to take urgent action to change the global economy's trajectory to low-carbon. Cop26, which is a vital UN climate conference between governments from 197 countries, will be held in Glasgow this November.In western Germany, floods caused significant damage to Schuld, near Bad Neuenahr–Ahrweiler in July. 189 people lost their lives. Photograph by Christof Stache/AFP/Getty ImagesCop26 is asking each nation to bring new plans to reduce greenhouse gas emission to a level that will limit global warming to no more than 1.5C above preindustrial levels. This is the goal of the Paris climate accord and an IPCC goal which was still achievable but not quite.Antnio Guterres was the UN secretary-general. He warned that this report is a red alert for humanity. Alarm bells sound alarmingly and the evidence is overwhelming: global warming from fossil fuel burning and deforestation is threatening our planet and putting billions at risk.He demanded an end to the construction of new coal plants, as well as to exploration and development of fossil fuels. Governments, investors, and businesses should all work together to create a low-carbon future. He said that this report should sound the death knell to coal and other fossil fuels before they cause global destruction.Boris Johnson, the UK's prime minister, spoke at Cop26. He said: This report is sobering and it is clear that the next ten years will be crucial to securing our planet's future. I hope today's report will serve as a wake-up call to the world, before we meet in Glasgow, November, for the crucial Cop26 summit.John Kerry, the special envoy for Joe Biden, stated that the IPCC report demonstrates how urgent it is to act now. This crisis requires the world to unite before we can limit global warming to 1.5C.The IPCC stated that temperatures have risen by 1.1C in the past decade, although stabilizing the climate at 1.5C is still possible. This level of heating would still lead to more heatwaves, more severe droughts, and floods but it would be less than 2C.Professor Richard Allan of climate science at University of Reading and lead author of the IPCC, stated that each degree of warming is crucial. He said that moderate extreme weather events are being promoted to the top league of extreme events with further temperature rises.On 7 August, a burned fire engine and station at downtown Greenville, California. A larger area than Los Angeles has been ravaged by the Dixie fire. Photograph by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty ImagesCivil society groups called on governments to take immediate action. Greenpeace UK chief scientist Doug Parr said that while they have been warned about the severity of the climate crisis by scientists, this generation is the last to ignore them. Past inaction is responsible for the increasing severity, frequency and frequency of climate catastrophes that have ravaged and flooded many areas of the globe in recent months. If world leaders don't act now, the situation will only get worse.Stephen Cornelius is chief advisor on climate change at WWF. He added that this stark assessment shows the terrifying future we face if we don't act. Every degree of warming is important to limit irreversible damage, as the world is on the verge of irreversible disaster.Even if the world can limit global warming to 1.5C, there are certain long-term effects of warming that will be irreversible. These include sea level rises and melting Arctic ice. According to IPCC scientists, drastic reductions in emissions could prevent worse climate change but not restore the world's more moderate weather patterns.03:55 Climate crisis: What one month of extreme weather looks at videoProfessor of climate science at University of Reading and lead author of the IPCC, Ed Hawkins said that we are already seeing climate change. This includes more extreme and frequent weather events and there is no way to reverse many of these effects.Joeri Rogelj (director of research at Grantham Institute, Imperial College London) said that this report will be the last one from the IPCC, as there is still time for us to keep below 1.5C. He said that this report shows that the closer we get to 1.5C, we will live in a more pleasant climate. It also shows that we can stay within 1.5C, but only if emissions are reduced in the next ten years. 1.5C will be gone by the time we do not reduce emissions in the next IPCC report, which is due to be released at the end this decade.The Monday report will be followed by two additional instalments next year: Part two will address the effects of the climate crisis, and part three will discuss the possible solutions. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed publication by a few months and forced scientists to work online and via video conferencing.
