Posted on September, 25 2018
BERLIN, Germany (25 September, 2018) – Governments will meet in Korea next week to approve a landmark report that outlines what it will take to keep global warming to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. The report is expected to underscore the critical need for urgent and transformative climate action as climate impacts increase in scale, frequency and intensity.
The report is produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change. It will be the authoritative scientific underpinning to guide government policy decision-making as countries look to enhance their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The report is expected to inject urgency into UN climate talks in Katowice, Poland, in December, and beyond.
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF’s global climate and energy programme, said: “The report is expected to underscore what we already know: we need unprecedented, systemic and just transformation across the economy – in our energy, land, urban, and industrial systems - if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The longer we leave tackling emissions, the greater the impacts and the deeper and more expensive the emissions reductions will need to be in future. What we need now is political leadership to ensure we step up to the challenge ahead.”
Dr Stephen Cornelius, chief adviser on climate change for WWF-UK said the world must not underestimate the importance of the report. “The findings will influence the path we follow for years to come. Higher temperatures means higher climate impacts which will irrevocably alter the delicate web of life on which humans and nature thrive. Limiting global warming will require rapid and deep emissions cuts,” he said.
Notes for Editors
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meets to approve the Summary for Policymakers of its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C in Korea 1-5 October. The report will be launched on Monday 8 October at 10am local time.
- Read WWF’s expectations paper for the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C here.
- Read WWF’s position paper on temperature overshooting here.
- Read WWF’s position paper on carbon dioxide removal, including carbon sequestration in natural systems here.
- Read WWF’s blog on the challenges facing decision-makers in Korea here.
- Mandy Jean Woods mwoods@wwfint.org (in Korea 30 Sept – 9 October)
- Julien Anseau janseau@wwfint.org (in Korea 4 – 9 October)