Recently, some important and concerning updates were made available by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the United Nations Climate Summit. The ‘Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ outlined severe changes occurring in oceans, glaciers, and ice deposits on land and sea. This report is one of three theme-specific reports commissioned by IPCC, with particular focus on global warming of 1.5° C, land and climate change, and the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Understanding the Role of IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an international body that assesses scientific information relating to climate change. Formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IPCC supplies policymakers with regular assessments of the climate change science, future risks, and potential mitigation and adaptation strategies. These assessments also provide a scientific foundation for governments to form climate-related policies and inform UNFCCC negotiations.
About IPCC Reports
IPCC prepares and shares comprehensive Assessment Reports providing vital information on the state of technical, scientific, and socio-economic climate change knowledge, its impacts, future threats, and mitigation options. Despite the wealth of information provided, the IPCC doesn’t conduct its own research. The 5th Assessment Report released by IPCC in 2014 was part of a series, with the 6th Assessment Report anticipated to be published in 2022.
Key Findings from ‘The Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’
This report predicts significant shifts in oceanic conditions throughout the 21st century. Included are increases in temperature, marine heatwaves, further ocean acidification, and a rise in extreme El Niño and La Niña events. Notably, the ocean has continued to warm since 1970, absorbing over 90% of excess heat in the climate system. The frequency and intensity of ocean warming and marine heatwaves have likely doubled since 1993.
The report also documented a rise by 16 cm in global mean sea-level between 1902 and 2015, with an escalating rate of increase. It further revealed significant regional differences in sea-level rise, resulting from variations in land ice loss, ocean warming, and circulation. In addition, the report highlighted the critical role of melting glaciers in sea-level rise, surpassing the effect of ocean water thermal expansion due to rising temperatures.
The Impact of the Melting Glaciers
The report noted that between 2006 and 2015, Greenland’s ice sheet lost an average of 278 billion tonnes of ice mass per year, causing a global sea-level rise of 0.8 mm annually. Within the same timeframe, the Antarctic ice sheet lost an average of 155 billion tonnes of ice mass per year. Glaciers outside of these two poles, such as those in the Himalayas, collectively lost about 220 billion tonnes of ice annually. These melting glaciers pose significant threats to food security, water resources, quality of life, health, and the cultural aspects of human societies, especially for Indigenous peoples.
Summary of Key Findings
| Findings | Data |
|---|---|
| Ocean Warming since 1970 | Over 90% of excess heat absorbed |
| Frequency of Marine Heatwaves since 1993 | Doubled |
| Global Mean Sea-Level Rise between 1902 and 2015 | 16 cm increase |
| Ice-mass lost by Greenland Ice Sheet per year | Average of 278 billion tonnes |
| Sea-level rise caused per year | 0.8 mm |
| Ice-mass lost by Antarctic Ice Sheet per year | Average of 155 billion tonnes |
| Ice loss by glaciers outside the poles per year | Average of 220 billion tonnes |
The Role of IPCC in Climate Change Mitigation
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change aids in climate change mitigation measures by providing accurate scientific assessments. These assessments help governments across the globe to form suitable climate-related policies and inform negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The IPCC report thus plays a crucial role in mitigation strategies for a rapidly warming planet.