I was recently asked by one of the largest global private equity houses about the latest scientific evidence concerning climate change and whether this "proved the case" beyond doubt – and if so, what do we do about it? Although there are still a few 'doubters' and it is increasingly difficult to hear rational arguments from them, they do have a habit of grabbing the headlines. Maybe, just maybe, that's got something to do with some leading journalists being in the doubters/flat-Earth camp?
In
this blog post I will have a quick peak at the latest from the
scientific community and how that has been received, and I will
post a follow up that covers the 'so what do we do about
it?' issue.
The science & scepticism
In a timely manner to help me answer the question as to whether the scientific case behind climate change has been proved, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its latest findings last month – a 2,600-page analysis of the risks from climate change to life, society and economies that are faced now and for the foreseeable future ("Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability").
The IPCC has come in for some stick in the past but this report draws on extensive scientific work and even sceptics agree it provides a very comprehensive picture of the risks associated with climate change. This might be because it focuses mainly on climate adaptation (i.e. how we cope in a changing climate) rather than almost entirely on mitigation (i.e. how we slow the change down).
The questions posed was whether the science is unequivocal? The IPCC is clear in its findings: "We are now in an era where climate change isn't some kind of future hypothetical. We live in an era where impacts from climate change are already widespread and consequential." The IPCC goes on to say that its report gives governments what they need to come up with strategies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting populations from climate change risks. Even the sceptics say that this was their message all along!
Decreasing scepticism?
The sense of urgency in the IPCC's findings is still present but its language is maybe more palatable than previously and this seems to have struck a chord. The Daily Telegraph, for example, welcomed less "doom-mongering" and that more thought is "given to how mankind might adapt to the climatic realities". Perhaps unsurprisingly, Owen Patterson, the UK's Secretary of State for the Environment, agreeing with this sentiment stated that climate change "is something we can adapt to over time".
So, the science is, again, compelling – so compelling that even the doubters are aligning themselves with it. It's interesting to see how much more palatable the message seems to be now that more emphasis is placed on adapting to climate change rather than just trying to mitigate it. I sincerely hope we redouble our efforts to mitigate, and enjoy the benefits of investing in energy efficiency (more jobs, lower bills, healthier planet). In terms of adaptation, that's the focus of my next blog...
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
