New IPCC synthesis report: "The investment gap is immense"

In their latest report, IPCC scientists warn that the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement could be missed without drastic action. This could already be the case in the first half of the 2030s. Dennis Tänzler, climate policy expert at adelphi, takes a clear stance on this.

According to the new IPCC report, human-caused climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. This has led to widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people. Vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to current climate change are disproportionately affected. Meeting the 1.5 degree target would require a 48 per cent reduction in global CO2 emissions by 2030, and a 65 per cent reduction by 2035 compared to 2019 levels.

Dennis Tänzler, Director and Head of Programme Climate Policy at adelphi, explains: “The global climate community must now repair the damage caused by its lack of determination in recent decades. The IPCC generally makes no policy recommendations, yet the tenor of this best of compilation of climate science findings in the #ar6 synthesis published today is unequivocal. Since the 2014 report, too little has happened on the mitigation side. Now the science does not only call for adaptation, but also the need to address climate-related loss and damage already today. This must be understood as a driver to significantly increase the speed of transformation.”

While progress is being made in all sectors and regions, the IPCC also identifies clear gaps in implementation. In financing, for instance: according to the IPCC, the current global financial flows for adaptation are not sufficient for the implementation of adaptation options, especially in developing countries, and are limiting them.

“Unlike in 2014, the summary for decision-makers also points to a major deadlock: The investment gap is immense, but the global financial means are sufficient. This standstill must end. This is no longer the responsibility of governments alone, but also of the private sector. Both have to change course in order to decisively address the many solutions that the report also points to, and to limit further loss and damage”, Dennis Tänzler says.