Latest IPCC report underscores urgent need for climate action

The AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 is the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released by the United Nations today.

The report’s key message is that “rapid and far-reaching transitions across all sectors and systems are necessary to achieve deep and sustained emissions reductions and secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” Integrating the main findings of the IPCC’s earlier assessments released 2018 – 2022 the report summarises the state of knowledge on climate change, its impacts and risks, and adaptation and mitigation options. This is the final instalment in the IPCC Sixth Assessment.

Large parts of Australia and other countries are expected to see worsening climate events, as a result of global warming caused by the continuing rise in greenhouse gas emissions.

Every region in the world is expected to face increasing risks from climate hazards, with projected long-term impacts up to many times higher than observed now.

While climate mitigation ambition and action across the world have increased over the past decade, the report finds that more work is needed globally to limit warming to 1.5°C. Accelerated mitigation and implementation of adaptation actions in the near-term would reduce future losses and damages related to climate change for humans and ecosystems, and deliver many co- benefits, especially for air quality and health.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the IPCC report highlighted the importance of the Government’s climate action and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said the Government would continue to provide support to mitigate the impacts of climate change already being experienced by communities across the country.

The report is expected to be a valuable resource for domestic policy makers around the world. It will also be a key input into this year’s Global Stocktake of progress towards the purpose and long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.

The IPCC is the world’s pre-eminent authority on climate change and is a trusted source of technical advice.
Australia was an active contributor to the report. Three Australian experts were selected by the IPCC to participate in the report’s drafting and review team, with another four Australian experts participating as contributing authors.52 Australian experts contributed to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment cycle. This included earlier Working Group and Special Reports a, the findings from which are integrated into this latest report. Research produced by many more Australian experts was drawn upon in the development of these reports, including Australia’s world-leading research in the field of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

Officials from Australia’s IPCC national focal point, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, represented the Australian Government at the report’s intergovernmental approval session.