Unveiling the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

- The IPCC is a UN body tasked to assess climate change relevant science.

- Creation took place in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

- The objective is to assist governments with scientific information useful in climate policy formulation.

- The panel does not conduct independent research. Rather, contributions from global volunteers shape the work of the IPCC.

IPCC's Assessment Reports Overview

- The IPCC compiles comprehensive Assessment Reports detailing climate change knowledge, causes, potential impacts, and response options.

- Since its inception, the panel has released six Assessment Reports, the most in-depth scientific reports on global climate change.

- The 6th Assessment Report is divided into three parts: three Working Group reports and a synthesis report.

- The panel is currently in its seventh Assessment cycle (AR7).

Assessing Future Scenarios: IPCC’s Methodology

- IPCC employs Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs), which map out potential climate and energy futures.

- IAMs integrate inputs from various disciplines like macroeconomic growth projections, energy consumption forecasts, land-use changes, and the evolution of the climate according to physics principles.

- However, a limitation of IAMs is their focus on least-cost assessments, often overlooking equity issues between different nations.

Findings of the Recent Study on IPCC's Reports

- Experts from Bengaluru and Chennai conducted a study assessing 556 IPCC scenarios.

- Despite making up 60% of the global population, regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and rest of Asia will have below-average per-capita GDP in 2050.

- Similar inequity was found in the consumption of goods, energy, and fossil fuels between the Global North and the Global South.

The Principle of Equity in Climate Change mitigation

- Equity principles and differentiated responsibilities are embedded in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

- This recognises that while a global response is necessary to tackle climate change, it is fair for more affluent nations to bear more responsibility for these actions.

Concluding Remark

- The authors of the study urge that the development of IPCC scenarios should be both equitable and environmentally sound. This issue represents a significant gap in the emissions modelling domain. Consequently, future model and scenario building efforts need to bring equity and climate justice issues to the forefront.