United Nations to publish report on how to combat climate change

By Vatican News staff writer

The UN climate report will provide policy makers around the world with concrete ways on how to curb greenhouse gases. Entitled "Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change," the report to be released late Monday will look at how to restrict greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. Recommendations will likely address how to shift from fossil fuels over the coming years, as well as the move to other technologies that can reduce carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. 

Consensus needed to move forward

The report will be issued by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC,  but before that can happen, the member governments must find agreement on the findings it contains and how they are worded. Hopes are the consensus requirement will not water down the text and render recommendations less effective in addressing critically needed efforts to slow or halt climate change before it becomes a runaway planetary trend that puts the future of humanity at high risk.

IPCC scientists have underscored the challenge that to slow the rise in global temperatures under the 1.5C threshold in this century, greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by the end of this decade. According to scientists, rising global temperatures are already contributing to devastating extreme weather events around the world, with escalating impacts on economies and societies. 

Tipping point for climate action

UN Secretary General António Guterres issued a dire warning on the eve of the the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, saying, “We have reached a tipping point on the need for climate action. The disruption to our climate and our planet is already worse than we thought, and it is moving faster than predicted.”

At that time Pope Francis issued a message for the COP26 summit, noting how "we find ourselves facing an epochal change, a cultural challenge that calls for commitment on the part of all, particularly those countries possessed of greater means. And these countries need to take a leading role in the areas of climate finance, decarbonization in the economic system and in people’s lives, the promotion of a circular economy, providing support to more vulnerable countries working to adapt to the impact of climate change and to respond to the loss and damage it has caused."