IPCC Warns of Immediate and Growing Threat of Climate Change, Companies and Investors Must Act Decisively

Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the second contribution of its Sixth Assessment Report. The report concludes the impact of climate change is intensifying so rapidly that it is endangering nature and society's capacity to adapt. It confirms the effects of the climate crisis are already being felt and have been much more widespread and negative than expected. An estimated 3.6 billion people are living in areas highly vulnerable to impacts.

The IPCC stresses that near-term actions to limit global warming to 1.5degC are critical to reducing and avoiding projected damages; risks will be several times greater if temperatures are to rise 2degC. Current global climate commitments are on track for more than 2degC of warming while global temperatures have already increased by an average of 1.1degC.

"The IPCC is clear on the rapidly escalating risks of increased global temperature," said Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow. "Now is the time for transformational efforts from companies -- from 1.5degC aligned target setting to comprehensive transition plans, actual near-term emissions reductions, and support for ambitious climate policy. Without effort at the scale that climate change merits, the global economy and investor interests will be gravely impacted."

The third contribution of the Sixth Assessment cycle will be released in April. This contribution will provide detail on climate change mitigation and pathways to reduce emissions to reach the targets laid out by the Paris Agreement.

To learn more about As You Sow's work on climate change, click here.