Utilizing the IPCC for Communicating Both the Full Extent of the Global Climate Emergency and the Required Response

Abstract:

Despite the challenge from deniers, since the IPCC (2018) 1.5°C Report (which we use), the climate emergency is widely recognized. Recent statements by the UN Secretary General and IPCC Chair are helpful. The problem called climate change is climate and oceans disruption from atmospheric greenhouse gas pollution. The IPCC-published climate change science reports are invaluable, including the FAQs. The most important message in the IPCC (2014) AR5 and 1.5°C Report is that global emissions have to decline rapidly from 2020, via market failure corrections, for a 1.5°C and a 2°C limit. The greatest impact to humanity is on food security, and from the IPCC we describe regional impacts and crop model limitations. The Summaries for Policy Makers (SPMs) are convincing as all world governments approve them. We simplify IPCC images for clarity. We elucidate IPCC reports on confidence, carbon budget, net zero, negative emissions, value judgements, and recommendations. We clarify inertias, commitment, risks, and amplifying feedbacks. Long-term data trends, rather than only model projections, can now be relied on. We simplify IPCC scenarios to business-as-usual and best case. We combine IPCC mean projections with upper ranges, as long-term projected temperature increases are underestimated as they do not account for amplifying feedbacks or decline of carbon sinks, and are only based on a single climate sensitivity. Although the IPCC shows that atmospheric CO2 is "forever," IPCC SPM projections are all now only to 2100. The IPCC 1.5°C Report gives 1.5°C and 2°C limits by 2050. In the IPCC reports, the greatest present risk to all life is hard to find, which is multiple inter-reinforcing amplifying feedbacks that lead to hothouse Earth and a runaway danger limit of 2°C, requiring immediate and rapid global emissions decline.