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IPCC Sixth Assessment Report – lessons from the Australasia factsheet?
MF Interest Group: Sustainability Leadership
Hosted by:
Dr Ingmar Wahlqvist
Dianne Jacobs
June 20, 2022 @ 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm
FreeThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis, was published drawing on the contributions of hundreds of scientists from around the world.
The report provides an assessment and synthesis of peer-reviewed literature on climate science and provides information about climate change across the globe.
Global findings that are relevant to Australia (as noted by CSIRO) include:
> Large-scale indicators of climate change in the atmosphere, ocean, and cryosphere are reaching levels, and changing at rates, unseen in centuries to many thousands of years.
> It is virtually certain that the frequency and intensity of hot extremes and the intensity and duration of heatwaves have increased across most land regions since 1950.
> Marine heatwaves have become more frequent in the 20th century, human influence has very likely contributed to 84–90 per cent of them since at least 2006.
> The frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events have increased over most land regions with good observational coverage, and human influence is likely the main driver of the increases.
> Human influence has contributed to drought in particular during the dry season over most land areas due to increase in atmospheric evaporative demand.
The Australasian regional factsheet of February 2022, IPCC ARG6 WG11 (use this link https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg2/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGII_FactSheet_Australasia.pdf or click on the photo below to access report) is the focus of this interest group discussion.
It is well worth reading: New IPCC report shows Australia is at real risk from climate change, with impacts worsening, future risks high, and wide-ranging adaptation needed published in the Conversation on
Another factor to consider is that the Pacific region is the most vulnerable to climate change and yet it contributes the least to global warming in terms of emissions. The IPCC Regional Factsheet for Small Islands finds changes in the environment are already and will continue to be the single greatest threat to the security and well-being of Pacific people. Adapting to rising sea levels requires a set of measures that include the built and natural environment, health, infrastructure, protecting village housing, water, coastal protection, settling land disputes, energy, tourism, food (fisheries, agriculture) and natural resources (forestry, biodiversity).
Australia cannot ignore that climate driven mobility, migration and displacement are key considerations for the Pacific Islands. Deeply felt is the fact that dislocation has a societal cost to their communities, culture, language and heritage – at home and in the diaspora. How do we protect people at risk?
Guiding the discussion are two Melbourne Forum members, Dr. Ingmar Wahlqvist is an Investment Manager at Brandon Capital Partners and Dianne Jacobs, a Melbourne Forum board member and chair of the interest groups committee.
Come with an open mind and definitely be prepared for a stimulating and challenging discussion as part of Melbourne Forum’s Sustainability Leadership interest group.
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This Melbourne Forum Sustainability Leadership Interest Group will bring together those interested in sharing perspectives and exploring key issues with fellow members about sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance). The intimacy of the experience is enhanced when everyone who attends gets to comment and exchange ideas. The hosts are members whose role is to gently guide the group’s conversation.
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Save the dates and note the themes of the upcoming conversations in the series:
July 18th: Boardroom responses – opportunities and risks in a zero carbon, sustainable world?
August 15th: AI and ESG – what are the synergies?
September 12th: Sustainability and 20-minute neighbourhoods – what is to be gained?
October 24th: COP 27 – can the UN climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh bring about change?
November 7th: Economic growth and the right metrics – what is success?
By the way, this Book Group discussion will also explore the environment and sustainability. August 9 – Landscapes of Our Hearts: Reconciling People and Environment by Matthew Colloff
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