IPCC Report: Human-induced climate change causing widespread losses.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability warns that human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. Devi Palanivelu spoke to Dr. Christopher Trisos, a Coordinating Lead Author for the report, on the key findings of the assessment. Here are the excerpts:

Question: The Chair of the IPCC Dr. Hoesung Lee called the Sixth Assessment Cycle, which this report is part of, as 'the most ambitious one in IPCC history,' simply because 'the stakes have never been higher.' What are some of the key take-aways?

Dr. Trisos: Human-induced climate change is causing widespread losses and damages to people and the ecosystems - with hat happening in regions all around the world. And that evidence is much stronger since the last report-setting.

This report really emphasizes that it's not just about cutting the emissions - that's such an important foundation, the emissions cuts - what we're emphasizing in this report is we also have to adapt and have to do better.

The report is very clear that we're required to take action and not just make ambitious statements on things like adaptation, finance, inclusive governance for adaptation, protecting ecosystems, [and] securing livelihoods for the most vulnerable.

From what the science says, any further delays in global action risk missing [a] rapidly closing window to secure a safe and livable future for people and nature on the planet.

(Learn more about the report's main messages here.)

From what the science says any further delays in global action risk missing (a) rapidly closing window to secure a safe and livable future for people and nature on the planet.

Climate change is widespread and affects the lives of billions of people around the world. Are we all vulnerable to climate change?

Dr. Trisos: With increasing global warming, all regions of the world are being adversely affected by climate extremes. And we know from the Working Group I Assessment that those climate extremes are forecast to increase in the near term.

Climate risks cascade across sectors and across regions. As we have more comparative extreme events, and as the global economy is more connected, climate impacts that hit in one place can cascade through transport and supply chains, for example, to affect very distant parts of the world.

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