IPCC report: extreme sea level events will be ‘once a year’ by 2050

The latest IPCC report ‘Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ highlights the damaging consequences of endured changes to our oceans and frozen waters.

The report, put together by more than 100 scientists from more than 30 countries, assessed the latest scientific knowledge about the impacts of climate change on ocean, coastal, polar and mountain ecosystems, and the human communities that depend on them.

The report says that even if emissions came to a halt immediately, extreme events will occur every year by 2050 in many regions, increasing risks for many low-lying coastal cities and small islands.

To limit the damage caused by the events, the IPCC warn that major investments in adaptation are required to reduce low lying costal islands being exposed to increased flood risks.

The report highlights that the ocean and the cryosphere play a critical role for life on Earth and on the human population. A total of 670 million people in high mountain regions and 680 million people in low-lying coastal zones depend directly on these systems.

Read the ClimateAction story by Rachel Cooper - “IPCC report: extreme sea-level events will be ‘once a year’ by 2050.”