Global Climate Change Report Affirms California’s Leadership


On August 9, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth report on global climate change. The report, which was written by 234 scientists from around the world, provides a sobering outlook for the planet as global temperatures continue to increase and signals an urgency for action now. Many changes observed are unprecedented, with some impacts – such as global temperature and sea-level rise – increasing at a pace not previously predicted by scientists. 

The IPCC report asserts that even if the world’s population completely ceased greenhouse gas emissions immediately, what’s already been emitted will continue to affect the atmosphere for decades to come: 

  • The inevitable warming will result in greater coastal flooding, hastened coastal erosion, and the corresponding displacement and property damage; 
  • Ocean heat waves, which have doubled in number since the 1980s, will increase in frequency, killing fish, seabirds and other marine life, and wreaking havoc on entire ecosystems, including coral reefs; 
  • The average rate of global sea level rise almost doubled between 2006 and 2018;  regardless of how quickly nations reduce emissions, a global average sea level rise of about 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) is anticipated by 2050; 
  • If we reach a global increase of 2 degrees Celsius or more – a probable outcome by the end of the century or sooner at our current emissions rate – the IPCC predicts the Greenland ice sheet could collapse, resulting in at least six feet of global sea level rise that would have even more severe consequences for coastal communities and ecosystems. 

Although the findings in the report are alarming, the IPCC report authors also made clear that with the right kinds of collective actions, we can still avoid complete catastrophe. Fortunately, California has long been a leader in setting ambition greenhouse gas reduction targets while furthering climate change resiliency and adaptation: 

To hold the warming of the planet to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the nations of the world must work together to cease our reliance on fossil fuels and curtail greenhouse gas emissions – every action we take matters. From nature-based solutions to our sea level rise adaptation policies, California’s climate policies set an example to be embraced by policymakers around the world. 



Categories: 30x30, Climate Change, Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Acidification, Offshore Wind, Outreach and Education, Sea-Level Rise, Strategic Goal 1: Climate Change, Strategic Goal 3: Biodiversity, Strategic Goal 4: Sustainable Blue Economy