IPCC WG3 response: Chemistry and its role in mitigating climate change

Today sees the release of the IPCC’s latest announcements, a summary for policymakers of their recommendations in Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change.

The Working Group III report provides an updated global assessment of climate change mitigation progress and pledges, and examines the sources of global emissions. It explains developments in emission reduction and mitigation efforts, assessing the impact of national climate pledges in relation to long-term emissions goals.

The IPCC states that in 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is beyond reach. However, there is increasing evidence of climate action.

Professor Tom Welton, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “The IPCC has set out that we simply must act now to keep to 1.5°C warming. The report is clear in saying we must speed up the transition from using fossil fuel in our cities, homes and transport to renewable and zero carbon sources of energy. We support its message that we must not wait for some future technological miracle when we already have an effective array of solutions at hand. Chemistry is central to enabling us to produce and store renewable energy and consume resources sustainably.

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