IPCC Climate Change 2014 Report – main findings
IPCC released its latest report ‘Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability’ (IPCC WGII AR5 Summary for Policymakers) on 31/03/2014. The report starts with restating the conclusion from its earlier editions ‘Human interference with the climate system is occurring and climate change poses risks for human and natural systems’.
The report is divided into following sections
Section A: Observed impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation in a complex and changing world
Section B: Future risks and opportunities for adaptation
Section C: Managing future risks and building resilience
The observed impacts of climate change include: (1) changing precipitation or melting snow and ice are altering hydrological systems, affecting water resources (2) impact on many terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species (3) reduced yields on of crops across regions (4) impact on human health – increased deaths due to heat; local changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the distribution of some water-borne illnesses and disease vectors (5) increase in the frequency and severity of climate-related extremes, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, and wildfires (6) Climate-related hazards affect lives of most vulnerable people directly through impacts on livelihoods, reductions in crop yields, or destruction of homes and indirectly through, for example, increased food prices and food insecurity (7) Possible large scale violent conflicts due to large scale displacements/ relocation etc. for access to infrastructure, institutions, natural resources, social capital, and livelihood opportunities.
The adaptation experience summarises mainly the steps globally from the Governments and institutions, communities in disaster risk management and water management. Asia’s efforts in the area include subnational development planning, early warning systems, integrated water resources management, agroforestry, and coastal reforestation of mangroves.
The last section is dedicated to some approaches on involves adaptation and mitigation decisions.
The referred summary report is available at link below
http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/IPCC_WG2AR5_SPM_Approved.pdf
Further reading/ Indian press coverage
1) ‘UN report on Climate change: Regional impact’ – The Times of India
2) ‘Climate change may lead India to war: UN report’ – The Times of India
3) ‘World not prepared to face climate change: experts’ – The Hindu
4) Warming worsens hunger problems: U.N. – The Hindu
5) Global warming will lead to civil wars, worsen security woes: UN – The Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/climate-change/global-warming-civil-wars-security-woes-un/