AN MP has said there are no words to describe the “urgency with which we need to act” to reverse the findings made in a new UN report into climate change.
The report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that humans are unequivocally driving global warming – with impacts from heatwaves to rising seas and extreme rain already seen around the world.
In a series of tweets, Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said climate change is “the biggest global threat we face today.”
Ms Lucas wrote: “I’m honestly struggling to find any words left to describe the full horror we face and the urgency with which we need to act to avert its worse.
“How many times do we need to report that time is running out? What more can it take before political leaders act?”
The assessment paints a stark picture of the impact humans are having through activities such as burning fossil fuels – and the future the world faces if it fails to rapidly tackle the crisis.
We’re in danger of going down in history as species that chose to monitor its own extinction rather than taking urgent steps to avert it. The #IPCC has produced climate reports for over 30 years - each sounding alarm bell more loudly. Time to act is now https://t.co/X3ymAcdRsU
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) August 9, 2021
The world will reach or exceed temperature rises of 1.5C – a limit countries have pledged to try to keep to in order to avoid the most dangerous consequences of warming – over the next two decades, the report says.
Temperature rises will continue until mid century – and without fast, deep reductions in greenhouse gases will, over the course of the 21st century, exceed both the 1.5C and 2C limits set by countries in the Paris climate treaty.
Unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the 1.5C target will be beyond reach
I’m honestly struggling to find any words left to describe the full horror we face & the urgency with which we need to act to avert its worst
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) August 8, 2021
How many times do we need to repeat that time is running out?
What more can it take before political leaders act? https://t.co/KmbOJDc3II
Ms Lucas added: “We’re in danger of going down in history as the species that chose to monitor its own extinction rather than taking urgent steps to avert it.
“The IPCC has produced climate reports for over 30 years – each sounding alarm bells more loudly. Time to act is now.”
A summary report has been released following its approval by representatives of 195 governments, who now face pressure to take more action to cut emissions in the run up to international Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow in November.
One of the report’s lead authors, Dr Tamsin Edwards from King’s College London, said: “Unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the 1.5C target will be beyond reach.”
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres described the report as a “code red for humanity” and scientists, campaigners and politicians lined up to call for a shift away from polluting fossil fuels and to end deforestation.
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