IPCC Synthesis Report: Rapid and far-reaching transitions

The past IPCC reports have been calling for rapid and far-reaching change. This latest summary report, published last week, repeats this call:

C.3 Rapid and far-reaching transitions across all sectors and systems are necessary to achieve deep
and sustained emissions reductions and secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.

IPCC AR6 SYR, Summary for Policymakers

Transitions across sectors and systems sounds quite daunting — something that only governments, NGOs, and multi-national corporations can tackle. However, the IPCC report also says that this is a critical time for emissions reductions. Every increment of warming matters. So what can we do in the meantime?

As workers, we can start exploring ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that our job produces. We can find ways for our work or workplace to:

• Switch to renewable energy
• Use sustainable materials & tools
• Create a sustainable end product or service
• Reduce waste and eliminate non-biodegradable waste

Making this type of change takes time, but we can start with learning and we can start with what we can control at work. These actions pave the way for more significant process and material change.

If you would like to find ways to make your job more climate-friendly, get in touch! We would love to brainstorm ideas with you and create new climate action guides to inspire others.

Resources

• Summary for Policymakers, IPCC AR6 SYR
• AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023
• Carbon Brief’s definitive guide to the entire IPCC sixth assessment cycle