The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by IPCC is being termed as the ‘code red’ for humanity. Examine the concerns raised in the report focussing on India. Enlist remedial measures given by the report.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a body of scientists reviewing latest research on climate change. Thereafter different assessment reports (ARs) have been published at different points in time.

Concerns raised in AR6:

• Increasing variability of monsoonal rain. Indian agriculture will be adversely affected.
• Increase in El Nino and El Nino Modoki. Thus droughts will be more frequent, impacting food security of India.
• Average rise in global temperatures can exceed 2°C by 2100. This will reduce yields of Indian farms.
• Increase in frequency and intensity of natural disasters like floods, cyclones.
• Economic losses due to higher temperatures that reduce productivity of construction sector workers.
• Glacier melting will accelerate, thus there could be scarcity of water in perennial rivers, e.g. Hindu Kush Himalayan region.
• Sea level rise will impact low lying coastal cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Remedial measures recommended:

• Transitioning to less carbon intensive economies by investing in renewable energy, public transport, electric vehicles, etc.
• Developed nations to provide climate finance including $100 billion pledged in previous round of negotiations.
• More ambitious climate change mitigation targets should be set.
• Climate proofing vulnerable sectors of economy, e.g. agriculture – developing drought and heat resistant varieties.
• Citizens should buy climate insurance to protect against risk of natural disasters.

Climate change presents an existential threat to mankind. IPCC 6th AR provides the evidence for the same. India has rightly demonstrated leadership for climate action through ‘Panchamrit’ pledges at COP26, Glasgow.