FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Paula Posas, (301) 432-0652, paula.posas@mdsierra.org
New IPCC Report Underscores Legislature’s Opportunity for Climate Leadership
RIVERDALE, MD — Yesterday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a new report, its sixth major assessment of climate science. Written by 270 researchers from 67 countries, the report shows the impacts climate change is already having on billions of people around the world. It says there is a rapidly closing window to slow climate change. To avoid catastrophic global warming that some communities and ecosystems may not be able to adapt to, deep emissions cuts are needed over the next decade.
Global temperatures have already increased by an average of 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 19th century due to increase in heat-trapping gasses pumped into the atmosphere by burning coal, oil and gas for energy and by cutting down forests. Beyond 1.5 degrees of temperature increase, many of the changes set off will not be manageable or reversible. Sea level rise will make many low-lying places uninhabitable. Up to 14% of land-based animal species will be at “very high” risk of extinction.
Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center Maarten van Aalst, one of the authors of the report stresses: “If we don’t implement changes now in terms of how we deal with physical infrastructure, but also how we organize our societies, it’s going to be bad.”
The report warns in its last line, “Any further delay in concerted anticipatory global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.”
In response, Josh Tulkin, Director of the Maryland Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“The report points out that the world is simply not doing enough, quickly enough, to combat climate change. There is no longer time for small incremental steps. While Maryland is only part of a global ecosystem, we can have a huge impact if we lead by example with bold, transformative policies.
Maryland has a chance to show real climate leadership this year by passing bills to reduce our impact on climate change and protect our parks and natural resources. We must increase the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, address climate equity, and transition off using fossil fuels to heat our buildings and power our transportation. We’re out of time to hit the snooze button, our urgent situation in Maryland and globally requires that we take strong climate action now.”