In a partnership between the World Climate Research Programme, Future Earth, and the Earth League, 57 environmental researchers from 21 countries summarize what are the top 10 environmental observations in 2020 that will have a major impact in the future.
With the impacts of climate change threatening to be very abrupt and far-reaching in the coming years, scientists have launched a more up-to-date climate compilation to help take collective action on the ongoing climate crisis.
“This is a critical part of our mission, to bring the latest science to decision-makers in an accessible format to help accelerate transitions to sustainability,” says Wendy Broadgate, director of Future Earth Global Hub, adding: “The worsening of forest fires, the intensification of storms, and even the ongoing pandemic are signs that our relationship with nature is deteriorating with deadly consequences.
The report prepared by the consortium of 57 researchers from 21 countries highlights this:
1 – A better understanding of the Earth’s sensitivity to carbon dioxide underpins the necessary ambitious cuts in emissions to comply with the Paris Accord
2 – The permafrost thaw emissions are likely to be worse than expected. Emissions will be higher than previous projections because of the abrupt thaw process, which is not yet included in global climate models.
3 – Rainforests may have reached their peak in carbon absorption. Earth’s ecosystems currently consume 30% of human CO2 emissions, but their deforestation is calling this work into question.
4 – Climate change will severely exacerbate the water crisis. New empirical studies show that climate change is already causing extreme precipitation events (floods and droughts), and these extreme environments in turn lead to water crises.
5 – Climate change can profoundly affect our mental health. Combined events are contributing to anxiety and suffering. The promotion and conservation of blue and green spaces by urban planning policies is necessary, as is the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity in natural environments.
6 – Governments are not seizing the opportunity to make a post-OVID-19 green recovery.
7 – OVID-19 and climate change demonstrate the need for a new social contract. The pandemic has highlighted inadequacies within governments and among international institutions to deal with cross-border risks.
8 – The economic stimulus focused mainly on growth puts the Paris Agreement at risk. COVID-19 recovery strategy based first on growth and then on sustainability may cause the Paris Accord to fail.
9 – Electrification of cities is essential for fair transitions of sustainability. Urban electrification can be understood as a sustainable way to reduce poverty by providing more than a billion people with modern types of energy.
10 – Going to court to defend human rights can be an essential climate action. Climate disputes are expanding.
