COP 28: "10 New Insights in Climate Science 2023" released
Screenshot: "10 New Insights in Climate Science 2023" (Future Earth, The Earth League, WCRP)
Today, the 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2023 were presented at the 28th World Climate Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Four GERICS scientists were involved in writing a chapter and coordinating this report, respectively.
The 10 New Insights in Climate Science report is a joint initiative of Future Earth, The Earth League, and the World Climate Research Programme. The annual series synthesizes the latest climate change related research for the international science-policy community. Since 2017, installments have been launched annually at the Climate COP with the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.
The 2023 report was prepared by a consortium of 67 leading researchers from 24 countries and responds to clear calls for policy guidance during this climate-critical decade. The scientific insights of the report equip negotiators with the latest climate science to facilitate informed, effective decision-making on holistic climate and nature solutions. This is especially significant against the backdrop of the inaugural Global Stocktake at COP 28, which underscores the pressing need for transformative actions to fulfill the Paris Agreement's ambitions.
The 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2023 report identifies the urgency of a rapid and managed fossil fuel phaseout in the face of the looming inevitability of overshooting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C global warming target.
Amidst the growing uncertainty of the future of land and ocean carbon sinks, the report also highlights the need for robust policies to scale up effective complementary solutions, including engineered carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods.
The report further outlines the urgent need for enhanced, just climate adaptation strategies that proactively address simultaneous interconnected extreme events and ensure the resilience for those most vulnerable. The critical role of food systems in climate action is also spotlighted, emphasising that policies must be inclusively designed and appropriate for each regional and sociocultural context, to enable the establishment of just, low-carbon food systems.
GERICS is participating in the 10 New Insights in Climate Science 2023 through its direct support of the Earth League, and was involved in the work on Insights 5 and 7. Insight 5 addresses the interlinked crises of biodiversity and climate and shows how important it is to tackle the two crises together. Insight 7 focusses on the dramatic and accelerating loss of mountain glacier ice worldwide and the resulting dangers such as water scarcity and flash floods. Former GERICS scientist Thea Wübbelmann co-authored the scientific article for Insight 5, while Maria Wolff and Tanja Blome were involved as Insight coordinators for the report for decision-makers. Cristóbal Reveco acted as Insight coordinator for Insight 7.
Please find the full "10 New Insights in Climate Science Report 2023" here (8,9 MB)