The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body charged with assessing the science related to climate change, published what is arguably one of the most important and consequential documents – the sixth assessment report on climate change – that addresses the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change, bringing together the latest advances in climate science, and combining multiple lines of evidence from paleoclimate, observations, process understanding, and global and regional climate simulations. The report was compiled by over 234 of the world’s leading scientists from over 60 countries. Most importantly, the scientists reported that the evidence for human-induced warming was “unequivocal” and that the impacts are global.

For us in the Caribbean, the report foretells dire consequences, as the latest science is suggesting that the 1.5 degrees C Temperature goal will be reached by 2040, even if “nations started sharply cutting emissions today” and that a hotter future is certain.   The world has already warmed by 1.2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, since 2020. The CCCCC was instrumental in getting the world to support the 1.5 to Stay Alive campaign, which was reflected in the historic Paris Agreement.  Why is 1.5 degrees C so important for the Caribbean? See this link: https://www.marketforces.org.au/info/key-issues/keeping-global-warming-to-1-5-c/ based on the IPCC special 1.5 report. Essentially, the impacts from global warming will be devastating blistering heat waves, more frequent and longer droughts, more frequent forest fires, more intense hurricanes, more frequent floods, dying of coral reefs, crippling on fisheries, more coastal erosion, and cotal inundation etc.

The CCCCC’s Executive Director, Dr Young is appearing on Krem’s WUB Morning Vibe to discuss the implications for the Caribbean based on what is outlined in the report. He will also discuss CARICOM’s priorities going into COP26. Tune in tomorrow, Wednesday, August 11 @ 7:00 AM Local Time (Belize GMT-6). You can watch at the link: https://www.facebook.com/KremTelevision or listen locally on FM 96.5, 91.1, 101.1.