IPCC WG3 response: Chemistry and its role in mitigating climate change
Today sees the release of the IPCC鈥檚 latest announcements, a summary for policymakers of their recommendations in .
The Working Group III report provides an updated global assessment of climate change mitigation progress and pledges, and examines the sources of global emissions. It explains developments in emission reduction and mitigation efforts, assessing the impact of national climate pledges in relation to long-term emissions goals.
The IPCC states that in 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5掳C is beyond reach. However, there is increasing evidence of climate action.
Professor Tom Welton, President of the 欧美AV Picture: 欧美AV
Professor Tom Welton, President of the 欧美AV, said: 鈥淭he IPCC has set out that we simply must act now to keep to 1.5掳C warming. The report is clear in saying we must speed up the transition from using fossil fuel in our cities, homes and transport to renewable and zero carbon sources of energy. We support its message that we must not wait for some future technological miracle when we already have an effective array of solutions at hand. Chemistry is central to enabling us to produce and store renewable energy and consume resources sustainably.
鈥淔or example, the report identifies how electric vehicles offer the biggest carbon savings for land-based transport 鈥� the authors also point to the health benefits of this transition. Battery innovations have sparked large-scale cost reductions of 85% in the last decade, and our chemical science community will be at the forefront of further advances. These cost reductions have been stimulated by public funding for research and development, and we must continue on this path. However, the authors also note that a transition to large-scale battery storage must be carefully managed to reduce risks of environmental harm.
鈥淎ll of these technologies rely on critical minerals which must be mined. Circular economies are needed to ensure a future for the scarce elements we already rely on a daily basis. Chemical sciences can reduce the harm of mining and also help us to recover these elements from waste for re-use. Decarbonising energy production can and must go hand-in-hand with implementing circular economies.鈥�
Chemistry has a role to play across all of these topics 鈥� see our for more on the interconnected global challenges the chemical sciences community is playing its part in tackling.