Tuesday 10 August 2021
Gemserv: ‘Government must respond to IPCC report with action at COP26’
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its Sixth Assessment Report yesterday.
Deemed as ‘a code red for humanity’ by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the scientific report again confirms that the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed.
We asked the experts at future Net Zero partner Gemserv about what they thought.
Ilias Vazaios, Director of Low Carbon, said: "The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is another reminder of the adverse impact of increasing GHG concentrations in the atmosphere caused by human activities. There is still time to turn the tide through a mix of behavioural change and technological innovation.
"This is an ideal time for the UK to demonstrate leadership with COP26 taking place in Glasgow from 31 October. The focus of the effort in the UK is now turning to reducing emissions in areas where consumers must make active choices, such as transport and heating, and at Gemserv we are keen to continue contributing insight and expertise to positively push this important debate forward.”
Matthew Knight, Head of Low Carbon Solutions, said: "Some plusses and minuses from today's IPPC report. On the positive side, the data and analysis is even more robust and there’s more confidence that the doomsday scenario will halt if warming is limited. If we reduce emissions rapidly in the next ten years and globally achieve net zero by 2050, we have a chance of restricting warming to 1.5°C. However on the negative side; we are witnessing unprecedented rates of warming compared to any time in the last 2,000 years and the weather extremes witnessed this year, are getting more intense/frequent and can now be directly linked to GHG emissions.
"The impacts that are already “baked in” will continue to generate weather extremes and sea-level rise for hundreds of years and there is a risk that if action is not taken now, we could witness catastrophic events, such as Gulf Stream shutdown, Antarctic ice collapse and massive species loss. It is also highly likely that we will experience 1.5°C warming as soon as the early 2030s. It is therefore essential that the Government delivers an ambitious and credible policy roadmap to decarbonise the UK this year. The cost of inaction is incalculable. We cannot afford any further delay.”
