IPCC : complete summary of the latest report

Discover the three parts of the latest IPCC report, summarized and simplified to be accessible to all!

Photo by Guy Bowden / Unsplash

Hoping to give you a good overview in this relatively short format.

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This is it.

The 3rd and final part of the IPCC's sixth report has just been officially published on April 4, 2022.

Written by several hundreds of scientists during (very) many hours of work, this book provides: evidence, explanations and directions to take when it comes to our climate future.

With almost 4000 pages for the first part alone, we felt it was important to summarize the complete content (including the 3 parts) of this sixth report to keep it in a digestible format. Let it be accessible to everyone.

Table of Contents

• Part 1: Focus

  • The state of the climate change
  • The Human is responsible
  • Different possible futures

• Part 2: Our vulnerability

  • The damage we are seeing
  • Not all countries are equal
  • Adaptation measures

• Part 3: How to reduce our emissions

  • Key transition sectors
  • The need for all sources of decarbonized energy
  • Sobriety above all
  • It's not just about energy
  • (Bonus) Some actions to implement at our level
  • In summary

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Part 1 : Focus

August 9, 2021

The state of the climate change

As you can see on the infographic above, the situation is becoming critical.

According to the report, the fateful 1.5°C mark should be reached as early as 2030: that is 10 years earlier than expected! If the Paris Agreements were to allow a trajectory of 2°C, without immediate action we are now heading rather between 4 and 5°C.

The Human is responsible

"But that's how it is, there are cycles. Warming is natural!"

So yes, but no. The human responsibility until now described as "extremely probable" is now "unequivocal".

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is reaching historic levels and we have to go back 2 million years to find similar conditions.

Different possible futures

Nothing is set in stone today. The panel reminds us that there is still time to act. Depending on the intensity of our actions, different scenarios are possible.

The first group reminds us that nothing is set in stone. It is in our power to change things and we must do so, because each of us is vulnerable.

Part 2: Our vulnerability

February 28, 2022

The damage we are seeing

From heat waves to extreme precipitation to sea level rise. All of the disasters that previous reports have warned about have happened and are getting worse.

They are accompanied by terrible consequences: degradation of human infrastructure, air, water and soil pollution, loss of biodiversity, etc.

Not all countries are equal

Food shortages, droughts, extreme temperatures... not all countries are in the same boat when it comes to environmental problems. Each region of the world is impacted but at different scales.

Once again, the countries of the South are more vulnerable than those of the North. We can expect that the inhabitants of the countries in red on the infographic will suffer from severe water and food shortages while having to endure more severe temperatures (sometimes physically unbearable for the human body in some regions) and more frequently.

Vulnerability by country

Adaptation measures

An estimated 2.5 billion more people will be living in cities by 2050. There are enormous opportunities now to adapt our cities to a more sustainable lifestyle.

The IPCC outlines several planned measures to achieve this:

Vulnerability reduction, Avoidance: discouraging development in the most vulnerable areas Protection: install dikes, raise houses in coastal areas Anticipation: build upwards and outwards from the sea) and Staggered and controlled retreat: moving people and developments inland The third group looks in more detail at the solutions to be implemented.

Part 3: How to reduce our emissions

April 4, 2022

Key transition sectors

• Energy
• Agriculture, forestry and other land uses
• Urban systems
• Construction
• Transportation
• Industry
• Finance We won't go into detail here but here are the highlights:

The need for all sources of decarbonized energy

This is one of the major themes at the heart of the current presidential campaign. Each candidate sees things in his or her own way: pro or anti-nuclear, pro or anti-wind energy...

The IPCC reminds us once again that all decarbonized energies will be necessary for our energy transition. The CO2 emitting energies must be abandoned as soon as possible.

Sobriety above all

The best energy is the one we do not consume.

If at Silt we put forward certain technological innovations, we want to remind you that nothing will be possible without sobriety. In this latest report, the expert group insists.

Before talking about large-scale decarbonization or a "green tech" revolution, let's reduce our emissions. The work of these technologies - which sometimes are not operational on a large scale or simply do not exist yet - will only be facilitated.

It's not just about energy

Yes it is important, but it is not everything!

Lately, we have not stopped exceeding the planetary limits (5 out of 9).

The social aspect is just as important No climate justice without social justice. This is one of the most important conditions and yet so little put forward.

How can we ask people to take their bikes when others are flying around in jets? Why tax the middle class to finance our fight if nothing is asked of tax exiles?

(Bonus) Some actions to implement at our level

• Insulate your home if you can afford it: It is one of the biggest sources of energy expenditure in France
• Turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater: 1°C less heating is 7% savings
• Choose to walk and/or bike as soon as possible: You can compare the emissions of different types of transportation
• Opt for a less meaty diet
• These few actions will greatly reduce your carbon footprint!

In summary

We only have 3 years left to reverse the trend if we do not want to live in a chaotic world.

The release of the first two parts was overshadowed by two different news events: the arrival of Messi at PSG and (understandably) the war in Ukraine.

We can only hope that this time the subject will be covered and brought to the forefront by the media. That it will be included in the public debate, in the presidential debate. Immediately, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

Let's talk about it... simply.

Discuss it around you, put it on the table and if possible :

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We are alerted for the umpteenth time by proposing solutions. Let's not miss the chance we have.