LENDING scientific credence to the warnings of the impending catastrophic global warming is the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) report released on Monday. The report sounds the alarm bells at a higher level, putting the spotlight harshly on the global policymakers. It underscores the need to implement plans aimed at limiting the rise in global warming to an ideal 1.5°C much sooner than earlier envisaged. Given that most nations are way behind in meeting the earlier target, the new shorter deadline entails a zero-tolerance approach to anything coming in the way of attaining net zero carbon emissions. The gap, globally, is ominously huge. Bridging it calls for prioritising the long-term health of the planet over the selfish and myopic profiteering from polluting activities. Unfortunately, at present, the going is downhill as far as meeting the Paris Agreement goals is concerned: while fossil fuel production and use should be reduced by about

6 per cent a year through 2030, the planet is dangerously headed the opposite way, towards an average annual increase of 2 per cent.

An urgent reversal of this trend — that bodes disastrous consequences — by drastically cutting emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases can help prevent the outbreak of the more widespread, frequent and intense weather events predicted by the IPCC. Coming a couple of months before the critical COP26 summit, the report should goad all nations to resolve to meet in Glasgow with strengthened and unified climate change strategies.

It is time the developed world and developing nations align towards the goal of leaving a liveable and peaceful Earth for our children. The rich nations that are majorly responsible for today’s distressing scenario must fund the mitigation measures of the poorer countries and transfer technology without strings attached. It would pave the way for countries like India, which are still stuck with the highly polluting thermal power plants, to quickly adopt cleaner and greener methods of development. The IPCC report might well be the last siren to stalling an irreversible global warming. The heat is on.