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Code red for humanity: World must 'wake up' and act to curb climate change before it's too late, says Britain after devastating UN report

The world must ‘wake up’ and act on climate change following a landmark report which warned that a target of limiting global warming to 1.5C will be breached within two decades, Britain said yesterday.

Following devastating flash floods in Germany and wildfires in Greece, the United Nations report says that climate change is already affecting every region across the globe.

UN chief Antonio Guterres described the warning as a ‘code red for humanity’.

The world must ¿wake up¿ and act on climate change following a landmark report which warned that a target of limiting global warming to 1.5C will be breached within two decades, Britain said yesterday. Pictured: Heavy rainfall in Erftstadt-Blessem, Germany, on July 16 caused severe flooding

The world must ‘wake up’ and act on climate change following a landmark report which warned that a target of limiting global warming to 1.5C will be breached within two decades, Britain said yesterday. Pictured: Heavy rainfall in Erftstadt-Blessem, Germany, on July 16 caused severe flooding

Following devastating flash floods in Germany and wildfires in Greece, the United Nations report says that climate change is already affecting every region across the globe. Pictured: A polar bear on melting ice

Following devastating flash floods in Germany and wildfires in Greece, the United Nations report says that climate change is already affecting every region across the globe. Pictured: A polar bear on melting ice

UN chief Antonio Guterres described the warning as a ¿code red for humanity¿. Pictured: A resident gestures and he holds an empty water hose as he attempts to extinguish wildfires in a forest near the village of Pefki on Evia, Greece, on August 8

UN chief Antonio Guterres described the warning as a ‘code red for humanity’. Pictured: A resident gestures and he holds an empty water hose as he attempts to extinguish wildfires in a forest near the village of Pefki on Evia, Greece, on August 8

Flood water traps a crowded train compartment in a flooded subway in Central China's Zhengzhou city on July 20A group of friends trapped in a flooding elevator at an apartment complex in downtown Omaha on August 7

Pictured: Flood water traps a crowded train compartment in a flooded subway in Central China's Zhengzhou city on July 20 , and a group of friends trapped in a flooding elevator at an apartment complex in downtown Omaha on August 7

Just weeks away from the Cop26 climate talks when world leaders will travel to Glasgow, scientists said a sea level rise of 2metres by the end of the century ‘cannot be ruled out’.

The stark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also says:

If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather

If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather

These graphs show how human influence has warmed the climate at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years

These graphs show how human influence has warmed the climate at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years

The UN scientists modelled the changes in annual mean temperatures worldwide based on 1.5C, 2C and 4C global warming

The UN scientists modelled the changes in annual mean temperatures worldwide based on 1.5C, 2C and 4C global warming

The projected changes in extremes are larger in frequency and intensity with every additional increment of global warming

The projected changes in extremes are larger in frequency and intensity with every additional increment of global warming 

WHAT ARE THE KEY GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT?

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has four main goals with regards to reducing emissions:

1)  A long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels

2) To aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change

3) Goverments agreed on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer for developing countries

4) To undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science

Source: European Commission 

It is ‘unequivocal’ that it is humans who are warming the atmosphere, land and oceans, the IPCC concludes for the first time. The Paris Agreement, adopted six years ago, set the target of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, which many experts see as the ‘guardrail’ beyond which climate change becomes particularly dangerous.

But the IPCC report found this target will be reached or exceeded over the next 20 years, even under the lowest-emission scenario.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the report makes for ‘sobering reading’, adding: ‘It is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet. We know what must be done to limit global warming – consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature and provide climate finance for countries on the frontline.’

The bombshell report piles pressure on the UK’s Cop26 president Alok Sharma, who is urging coal-hungry countries such as China and India to cut down and pushing for net zero pledges from seven G20 nations which have not already made them. He is also aiming to resurrect a failed promise for wealthier countries to raise $100billion (£72.2billion) to help developing countries cope with climate change. Mr Sharma was only appointed full-time Cop26 president in January after former Tory leaders David Cameron and William Hague reportedly turned the job down. Yesterday he described the IPCC report as a ‘wake-up call for the world’.

Projections for 2050: According to Climate Central, people in Liverpool, Hull, Blackpool and along the Norfolk coast could lose their homes if sea levels continue to rise

Projections for 2050: According to Climate Central, people in Liverpool, Hull, Blackpool and along the Norfolk coast could lose their homes if sea levels continue to rise

The authors of the IPCC report considered scenarios where global temperatures increased by 1.5C, 2C and 4C and the impact each one would have on mean temperatures and precipitation across Europe

The authors of the IPCC report considered scenarios where global temperatures increased by 1.5C, 2C and 4C and the impact each one would have on mean temperatures and precipitation across Europe

The report also looked at how these scenarios would affect mean temperatures and precipitation levels in North America

The report also looked at how these scenarios would affect mean temperatures and precipitation levels in North America

Climate change: The bombshell UN report comes as record heatwaves, wildfires and floods hit countries around the world. A firefighter is pictured above trying to extinguish a wildfire burning on the island of Evia, Greece at the weekend

Climate change: The bombshell UN report comes as record heatwaves, wildfires and floods hit countries around the world. A firefighter is pictured above trying to extinguish a wildfire burning on the island of Evia, Greece at the weekend

A near-destroyed street is pictured in the German town of Euskirchen after flooding last month caused widespread destruction, with the death toll now above 180

A near-destroyed street is pictured in the German town of Euskirchen after flooding last month caused widespread destruction, with the death toll now above 180

More than 230 deaths were reported in British Columbia after a blistering heatwave, labelled a once-in-10,000-year 'heat dome', gripped Canada and the west coast of the US. The Canadian city of Vancouver in British Columbia is pictured

More than 230 deaths were reported in British Columbia after a blistering heatwave, labelled a once-in-10,000-year 'heat dome', gripped Canada and the west coast of the US. The Canadian city of Vancouver in British Columbia is pictured

What will happen if temperatures continue to increase?

Sea level rises are 'irreversible' for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years, the report warned. It 'cannot be ruled out' that sea levels could rise by around 2m by the end of this century and 5m by 2150. This could lead to more flooding, the displacement of millions of people and a loss of land for food growing.

The Arctic is likely to be 'practically sea ice-free' in September at least once before 2050, UN scientists said. This is causing animals such as polar bears to suffer because of their shrinking habitat. 

It is 'virtually certain' that heatwaves, flooding and droughts will become more frequent and intense across the world. Hot extremes have become more prevalent since the 1950s, while cold events have become less frequent and less severe.

The Earth's oceans will continue to warm and become more acidic, killing coral reefs and harming infant cod, blue mussels, starfish and sea urchins in particular.

The UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said action was not needed in 2050, which is the year for many climate targets, but now, adding: ‘If we don’t do it now, then we don’t stand a chance of getting this right.’

UN secretary-general Mr Guterres said: ‘The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5C is perilously close.’

The IPCC report, approved by 195 member governments, marks a striking change of language. An IPCC review in 1995 suggested only a ‘discernible human influence’ on global climate.

But the latest report states: ‘It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.’ Global surface temperatures have risen faster since 1970 than during any other period over at least the 2,000 years, according to the experts. Cities are at particular risk. They experience hotter temperatures in heatwaves and flash flooding from heavy rain.

The IPCC report sets out five scenarios and estimates the level of global warming compared to the ‘pre-industrial’ era of 1850 to 1900.

Under all five scenarios, the world will exceed the 1.5C threshold between 2021 and 2040, although in the low-emissions scenario, this would be temporary, the planet would overshoot it by no more than 0.1C and return below it by 2100.

But Professor Ed Hawkins of the University of Reading, one of the lead authors of the report, said: ‘The 1.5C or 2C goals from the political process, they’re not cliff edges – every bit of warming matters.

‘The consequences get worse and worse and worse as we get warmer, so every tonne of CO2 matters.’ Mr Sharma told reporters: ‘If ever there was going to be a wake-up call for the world when it comes to climate, then it is this report.’

The UK Government has been praised for its 2050 target to reach net zero emissions. But ministers are often less than forthcoming when asked to describe exactly how people’s lives will change. 

This graphic from the UN report shows scientists' prediction of future emissions including CO2, methane and nitrous oxide

This graphic from the UN report shows scientists' prediction of future emissions including CO2, methane and nitrous oxide

Human activity is already responsible for 1.1C of global warming since 1850, while temperatures will continue to increase until at least the middle of this century. The temperature changes from human influence, including greenhouse gas emissions, aerosols, land-use changes and aviation vapour trails are shown above

Human activity is already responsible for 1.1C of global warming since 1850, while temperatures will continue to increase until at least the middle of this century. The temperature changes from human influence, including greenhouse gas emissions, aerosols, land-use changes and aviation vapour trails are shown above

Key findings from the UN's new climate science report 

– It is 'unequivocal' that human activity has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land – with widespread and rapid changes across the world.

– Many of the changes are unprecedented over many centuries to many thousands of years, with the world warming at a rate unprecedented in at least 2,000 years.

– Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are higher than they have been for three million years and methane concentrations are higher than they have been for 800,000 years, with rises in both greenhouse gases well above natural changes seen for hundreds of thousands of years.

– Global average temperatures were nearly 1.1C higher in the last decade than in pre-industrial times, or the period 1850-1900, driven by emissions caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

– Human-caused climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region around the world, with stronger evidence of more frequent or intense heatwaves, heavy rain, droughts and tropical cyclones and the role humans play in driving the changes.

– Humans are very likely the main driver of the global retreat of glaciers, decline in sea ice, warming oceans and rising sea levels. The rate of sea level rise is speeding up.

– Global surface temperatures will continue to increase until at least mid-century, and the world will reach or exceed 1.5C of warming over the next 20 years.

– Global warming of 1.5C and 2C – limits countries have committed to in order to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change – will be exceeded in the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.

– Continued warming will drive increases in the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, marine heatwaves, heavy rain, droughts in some regions, the proportion of intense tropical cyclones, and reductions in Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost.

– Every additional increment of warming causes larger changes in extremes, with every extra 0.5C temperature rises leading to clear increases in the intensity of heatwaves, heavy rain that can cause flooding, and droughts.

– Under scenarios for the future with increasing carbon dioxide emissions, the ocean and land carbon sinks such as forests are projected to be less effective at slowing the accumulation of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

– Changes to oceans, sea levels and melting permafrost and glaciers are irreversible for decades, centuries or even millennia as a result of past and future warming.

– Strong, rapid and sustained reductions in emissions of methane would help curb warming, and would also improve air quality

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