IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report — The 1.5°C Threshold, India's Exposure, and Adaptation Gaps
Summary
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Synthesis, released in March 2023, concluded that global surface temperature has already risen 1.1°C above 1850–1900 levels and that limiting warming to 1.5°C requires net-zero CO2 emissions globally by 2050.
●The report found that even at 1.5°C, South Asia faces increased heat wave frequency, disrupted monsoon patterns, sea level rise threatening 40 million coastal Indians, and significant crop yield losses.
●The report identified a widening adaptation finance gap — developing countries need $127–300 billion annually by 2030 but are receiving less than $50 billion.
Climate Change & Negotiations
This sub-topic has appeared in 16 UPSC Prelims questions.
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) produces Assessment Reports every 6–7 years synthesising the global scientific literature on climate change.
●AR6 (2021–2023) consists of three Working Group reports plus a Synthesis Report.
●The 1.5°C target comes from the Paris Agreement (2015) — countries agreed to limit warming to 'well below 2°C' and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. At current national pledges (NDCs), the world is on track for 2.5–2.9°C by 2100.
●India has committed to net-zero by 2070.
The 1.5°C vs 2°C difference is not academic — for India, it means the difference between severe and catastrophic disruption to agriculture, water, and coastal systems.
Factual Pointers
Practice · 2 questions
Consider the following statements about the IPCC:
1. The IPCC conducts original scientific research on climate change.
2. It was established jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
3. The IPCC's Assessment Reports are prepared by governments of member countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted in 2022 includes which of the following targets for 2030?
1. Reduce emission intensity of GDP by 45% compared to 2005 levels.
2. Achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources.
3. Achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.
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