Climate & Environment Reports

Climate and Environment Reports

Climate - general

Climate-heating greenhouse gases hit new high, UN reports

UK’s lack of plans to protect people from climate crisis ‘shocking’, say Government’s official climate advisers

'Completely Terrifying': Study Warns Carbon-Saturated Oceans Headed Toward Tipping Point That Could Unleash Mass Extinction Event

United in Science report says current plans would lead to a rise in average global temperatures of 2.9-3.4C by 2100, a shift likely to bring catastrophic change across the globe.

Glaciers

Himalayan glacier melting doubles since 2000 (Guardian)
Himalayan glaciers are melting fast, with over a quarter of their ice lost in 40 years. This suggests a “devastating” future for the region, which 1bn people rely on for water.

1/3rd of Himalayan ice cap will melt (Int. Centre for Integrated Mountain Development + Guardian)
Even radical action won’t save the glaciers.

Two-thirds of glacier ice in the Alps 'will melt by 2100'
(ETH Zurich + Guardian)
That's even if carbon emissions are cut to zero.

70% of glaciers in western Canada are projected to be gone by 2100. (New Press: The End of Ice)

Sea levels rising

Report projects a devastated America, up to 8 feet of sea level rise, 18°F Arctic warming – unless action is taken now. (Climate Science Special Report + New York Times)

The Earth’s glaciers and ice caps show accelerated retreat. This accounts for 1/3rd of global sea level rise (between 2.6 and 2.9 mm per year over the past 20 years). (NASA)

NOAA scientists conclude that global mean sea level will rise by between 0.2m and 2m by 2100. (U.S. Climate Change Science Program.)

If emissions are not reduced sharply, "There is the probability that the rise will be beyond 2 metres by 2100... which, will cause displacement of 187 million people." (Wikipedia and UKCIP/The Conversation)
This compares to the <1 million Syrian refugees who have entered Europe in the last 10 years.

Natural World & Biodiversity

Survival of natural world is in balance, says wildlife chief. (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and The Soil Association. )

There has been a 60% decline in the number of vertebrates worldwide since 1970 (Encyclopaedia Britannica and WWF)

"Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply." (WWF)

If the current rate of decline continued, insects would be wiped out entirely within a century. (Biological Conservation Journal)
Intensive agriculture is the main driver of the declines, particularly the heavy use of pesticides.

This is a climate emergency (Soil Association)