Scientific report urges bold action on climate change

The report offers conclusive scientific evidence that human activities continue to cause unprecedented changes in the earth’s climate, with the conclusion that we need to elevate the level of political commitment and action if we are to avoid the impacts of climate change.
UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “The latest IPCC report has provided us with not only the latest climate science and data but also with a better understanding of the best options for action. The IPCC thus represents the foundation and a compass for the negotiations at Lima this December and Paris in 2015.”
“UNEP together with the IPCC and the scientific community recognize that knowledge gaps remain and that further research is needed. But the empirical evidence is not only sufficient to judge the risks of inaction; it is also compelling in terms of the many co-benefits of acting now to maintain a reasonable chance of limiting global warming to below 2°C,” he added.
Inaction now in curbing greenhouse gas emissions will require costlier interventions later to keep global temperature rise below 2°C this century. If the necessary action is not taken, adaptation costs for Africa alone could reach $50 billion per year by 2050.
Linking development with climate mitigation will help developing countries positively “lock-in” to an energy efficient, low-emissions infrastructure for the coming decades.
However, barriers need to be overcome before emissions reduction options achieve full potential; most notable among those is the lack of adequate, large-scale financial incentives.
There is evidence nonetheless, that significant public and private investments are beginning to flow into energy efficiency; up to $365 billion in 2012, with $254 billion entering the renewable energy sector in the same year.