Yesterday,
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released their latest
report on Climate Change, building on their previous scientific report from
2013.
In summary,
the report states unequivocally that human influence has contributed to
unprecedented global warming and provides new estimates of the chances of
crossing the global warming level of 1.5°C in the next decades. The evidence is
clear that carbon dioxide is the main driver of climate change, even as other
greenhouse gases and air pollutants also affect the climate. It warns that
without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions, limiting warming past even 2°C will be out
of reach and even with drastic action, it could take 20-30 years to see global
temperatures stabilize.
The
bioeconomy has the potential to help to mitigate some of the effects of climate
change, and reduce carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere
is often described as a key step towards reducing effects of climate change,
and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one of the measures
the IPCC gives. The report also describes how increased biomass use and
subsequent reduction in fossil-based emissions has a variety of co-benefits,
like reduced acidification and reduction of air pollutants.
The
bioeconomy also relies on combatting climate change as it requires the continuation
of renewable biomass resources. Climate change can cause abrupt changes and severe
localized impacts, such as unprecedented weather, extreme temperatures and
increased frequency of droughts and forest fires, with changing environmental
conditions playing havoc with crop yields.
Unfortunately,
this latest report is not really news. Warnings of the effects of climate
change have been echoing for decades, with increasing severity. There is still
hope though, as the report confirms. A comprehensive range of potential climate
outcomes is given, as well as current knowledge on limiting human-induced
climate change. However, it is clear that it is now more important than ever
that we step up and take action.