Today, Monday April 4th 2022, the IPCC released the third part of their Sixth Assessment report, focused on climate change mitigation and an assessment of methods for reducing and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

The report urges immediate and far reaching change in order to achieve the critical 1.5°C threshold on global heating. This will require rapid changes to current emissions levels from all nations across all greenhouse gases, particularly methane, according to the report. 

Against the backdrop of the invasion of Ukraine, the report also calls for an urgent transition to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels. 

Acknowledging the international interdependence highlighted by energy security concerns following the invasion of Ukraine, the IPCC report urges that the responsibility to act lies first and foremost with developed and industrialised countries like Ireland, the countries with the highest historical emissions.

Kevin O’Farrell, Climate Committee Chair at An Taisce said:

“The report is focused on efforts to remove greenhouse gases (GHGs) as well as reduce GHG emissions, and includes a discussion on Negative Emission Technologies (NET), Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and carbon dioxide storage. Such technologies are unproven in their effectiveness. We can not depend on largely unknown and unproven technologies when the present and future threats to many people and our climate system are so great. It would simply be immoral to gamble the lives of future generations on them.”

Kevin O’Farrell, continues:
“The scientific evidence offered by the IPCC emphasises no further delay in drastically reducing climate damaging pollution. For wealthy, high emitting countries like Ireland that means urgent and rapid action in cutting fossil fuel subsidies, further ramping up transition to renewable energy and stopping practices that are killing biodiversity and harming nature”.

An Taisce continues to review the details of the report. 

ENDS

 Notes

1. 1. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Working Group 3 - Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-3

   2. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/