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IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report: The Critical Decade for Climate Action

The world's climate future hangs in the balance, as scientists warn urgent action is required to avoid catastrophic warming.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

The world's climate future hangs in the balance, as scientists warn urgent action is required to avoid catastrophic warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), representing the world’s most comprehensive synthesis of climate science to date. The report’s findings are clear and compelling: immediate, focused, and global efforts are necessary if humanity is to limit warming to 1.5°C and avoid disastrous impacts. This decade is a crossroads—what we do now will determine the future of the planet and its inhabitants.

The Reality of Climate Change: Scientific Consensus

The report states unequivocally that human activities, primarily greenhouse gas emissions, have caused global warming, resulting in a 1.1°C temperature rise over pre-industrial levels from 2011–2020.
CO₂ concentrations and ocean acidification are now the highest in at least two million years.
The pace and scale of climate change is unprecedented in human history, with irreversible effects already taking place.

The IPCC’s synthesis distills knowledge from hundreds of scientists and thousands of studies, providing governments and citizens with the best available guidance as the world approaches key tipping points.

What’s New in the Sixth Assessment?

The Sixth Assessment Report introduces significant advances in climate attribution science, allowing researchers to link specific extreme weather events with climate change more reliably than ever before. It outlines the consequences of various warming scenarios and provides updated carbon budget calculations that clarify the limits for remaining emissions to stay within 1.5°C.

Compound impacts, such as heatwaves combined with droughts, are now seen as primary threats to society’s stability.
Global warming intensifies multiple and concurrent hazards, with every degree of warming resulting in exponentially greater risks.

Major Headline Statements

“Human activities have unequivocally caused global warming.”
“Deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would lead to a discernible slowdown in global warming within around two decades, and noticeable improvements in air quality and planetary health.”
“The window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future is rapidly closing.”

Key Takeaways: Earth’s Climate Status and Risks

Physical Changes and Projections

Sea Level Rise: Rates have accelerated from 1.3 mm/year (1901–1971) to 3.7 mm/year (2006–2018), with projections under high-emission scenarios suggesting up to 2 meters by 2100 and 5 meters by 2150.
Extreme Weather: Higher global temperatures increase the frequency and intensity of events like floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. Every 1°C increase means air can hold 7% more moisture, worsening storms and precipitation extremes.
Global Warming Trajectory: It is likely the world will reach or exceed 1.5°C before 2040, with a best estimate of a 3°C rise by 2100 if current trends continue.

Compound and Exponential Impacts

The compounding nature of climate hazards means that heat, drought, and extreme weather events can co-occur, amplifying risks for both people and nature. The impacts—such as crop failures, drinking water shortages, and heat-related health crises—are frequently felt most acutely by vulnerable communities, including those already facing food or water scarcity.

Why Limiting Warming to 1.5°C Matters

The latter half of the report emphasizes that every fraction of a degree makes a difference. Limiting warming to 1.5°C, compared to 2°C or higher, would mean:

Fewer extreme weather events and less severe heatwaves
Substantially fewer people facing food and water insecurity
Reduced damage to ecosystems, species, and infrastructure
Lower probability of crossing irreversible tipping points, such as ice sheet loss or ecosystem collapse

For example, keeping warming to 1.5°C would result in mid-latitude heatwaves being about 1°C cooler than at 2°C; crop yield change would affect 158 million fewer people; and risks related to water scarcity and poverty would be far lower.

Carbon Budgets: Time Is Running Out

Chance to Stay Below 1.5°C	Remaining Carbon Budget (from 2020)
50%	500 billion tonnes CO₂
67%	400 billion tonnes CO₂
83%	300 billion tonnes CO₂

Achieving the 1.5°C target means global net-zero emissions by 2050. This window is rapidly narrowing as emissions continue to rise.

Mitigation Strategies: Blueprint for a Sustainable Future

The IPCC makes clear that it is still possible to secure a livable future—if the world acts now. The report details a series of actions across sectors, highlighting both technological and social solutions.

Essential Mitigation Steps

Peak Global Emissions by 2025: Global emissions must peak within the next two years and then decline sharply.
Rapid Decarbonization: Modeled pathways require a 43% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030 (from 2019 levels), and net-zero CO₂ emissions by mid-century.
Transition Away from Fossil Fuels: Substantial reduction in fossil fuel use is a priority, alongside a rapid expansion of zero-carbon energy sources. This means phasing out coal, reducing oil and gas use, and implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS) where needed.
Accelerate Clean Energy Solutions: The cost of solar and wind technologies has dropped dramatically since 2010. In many places, renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels, boosting their competitiveness.
Methane Emissions Cuts: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, must be cut sharply in the near-term, notably in energy and agriculture.
Electrify Everything: Transition to electric vehicles, efficient buildings, and electrified industry.
Protect and Restore Carbon Sinks: Forests and natural ecosystems must be protected and restored to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Equity and the Just Transition

The IPCC stresses that climate action must be fair and inclusive. Ensuring a ‘just transition’ means prioritizing social equity, supporting vulnerable populations, and guaranteeing that the benefits and burdens of climate action are distributed fairly.

Mitigation yields benefits beyond curbing global warming, such as cleaner air, improved public health, lower energy costs, and new economic opportunities.

Adaptation: Living in a Changed World

Even with ambitious mitigation, adaptation will be necessary to handle the impacts of climate change. Communities must invest in resilience—protecting health, infrastructure, and biodiversity from increasingly turbulent weather. This means prepared cities, early warning systems, robust emergency responses, and climate-smart agriculture—all tailored to local realities.

While adaptation can reduce harm, the report warns that without rapid emissions cuts, adaptation limits may be reached, leaving some impacts irreversible or impossible to manage.

The Narrowing Window: Calls for Urgent Global Cooperation

The IPCC’s message is stark: Humanity is at a crossroads. Strong international collaboration is more essential than ever. The solutions exist; what’s needed is the will to implement them at scale and pace.

Governments need to align policies with science-based climate targets.
Businesses must shift investments from fossil fuels to sustainable innovation.
Communities and individuals play vital roles in championing change.

The choices made in this decade will set the climate trajectory for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How certain is the IPCC about human-caused climate change?

A: The report states with ‘unequivocal certainty’ that human activities are responsible for global warming, with consequences already observable worldwide.

Q: Is it still possible to limit warming to 1.5°C?

A: Yes, but only if global emissions peak before 2025 and then decline sharply. Deep, rapid, and sustained cuts across all sectors are required.

Q: What role do renewable energies play?

A: They play a central role in curbing emissions. Costs have dropped, and renewables are increasingly cheaper than fossil fuels, making this transition economically viable.

Q: What is meant by a ‘just transition’?

A: A ‘just transition’ refers to equitable climate action that supports vulnerable populations and ensures fair distribution of benefits and burdens of change.

Q: What will happen if warming exceeds 1.5°C?

A: Risks of irreversible and catastrophic impacts go up substantially. These include dramatic sea level rise, mass extinctions, ecosystem collapse, food and water shortages, and increased poverty.

Action Steps for a Liveable Planet

In summarizing the Sixth Assessment Report, the IPCC underscores that transformative change is both possible and urgent. Decisive actions in the next few years will be pivotal. Our collective future depends on:

Immediate and far-reaching emissions cuts
Swift transition to clean, affordable energy
Global cooperation on climate solutions
Resilient adaptation strategies for communities worldwide

This moment is historic—the choices made today will shape the planet for centuries. The time for action is truly now or never.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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