On November 25, 2020, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) hosted a webinar with the participation of representatives of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is constantly reviewing modern scientific research on climate change. More than 80 scientists and students, representatives of civil society organizations and media from Central Asian countries took part in the webinars.
Read more about the event here.
Today we continue a series of publications dedicated to the presentations of the speakers who lead the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
At the online webinar, experts talked about the IPCC activities, including the preparation of the Sixth Assessment Report, as well as discussed trends and solutions in the field of climate change with the webinar participants.
In today's publication, we want to talk about Alisher Mirzabaev, who spoke at the webinar as an international expert of the IPCC, and his presentation “Key messages from the IPCC Special Reports”.
Alisher Mirzabaev is a senior researcher at the University of Bonn in Germany and deals with climate change and land degradation in Africa and Asia, including Central Asia.
At the beginning of his speech, Alisher Mirzabaev briefly presented the main results and conclusions of the IPCC special reports:
The first of these reports concerns the 1.5 ℃ global warming scenario;
The second one assesses the possible consequences of climate change for the oceans and the cryosphere;
The third report looks at climate change and land use issues.
The expert also spoke about the situation in which we are now. “Since the pre-industrial period, human activities have caused global warming by 1 ℃. Already, we are witnessing the consequences that negatively affect both people and the environment. At the current pace, we risk reaching the 1.5 1.5 mark between 2030-2052, ”says Alisher Mirzabaev.
Although the 1.5 ℃ mark may seem insignificant, such a change could lead to the extinction of many animal species, islands and island states. Therefore, every change, every year and every our choice is now of great importance.
Using the diagrams, the expert clearly showed how the level of global warming affects the risks associated with individual controlled natural systems and sectors of the economy. The graph shows the extent of the negative impacts on coral reefs, glacier melting, and the increasing risks to agriculture and fisheries.
According to expert Alisher Mirzabaev, IPCC special reports address the effects of climate change and possible responses to combat these changes. Response measures include:
measurement and monitoring of land use using new information and communication technologies, climate services and information;
investments in human and institutional capacity building, including access to research data, early warning systems, seasonal forecasts;
government assistance and improved access to credit;
improved market access, livelihood diversification strategies, drought preparedness, health and weather insurance, social protection and finance.
In addition, the expert highighted the importance of involving the entire population. According to the speaker, the knowledge accumulated by local and indigenous populations plays a key role in understanding climate processes and responses. In addition, the involvement of the entire population in decision-making related to land use and climate change provides an opportunity to pool capacities and overcome barriers to adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from land use. Also, according to the expert, the empowerment of women will help increase the capacity for food security and sustainable land management.
Alisher Mirzabaev concluded his speech by talking about immediate measures against desertification and land degradation. Such measures include: capacity building, transfer and implementation of new technologies, introduction of financial mechanisms to enhance adaptation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the land use sector, as well as improve systems for measuring and monitoring land degradation, early warning systems and hydrometeorological services. Many measures for sustainable management are of great importance for the economic structures of states.
Stay tuned for further updates and learn about other topics discussed on the webinar.
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