African Climes

 This report builds on previous work done by the panel in the fifth assessment cycle (AR5) and all reports since then (land, ocean and cryosphere, 1.5 degrees warming, and the WG1). It is based on a wider and deeper knowledge base accrued since then. It starts by noting the interdependence of the human world and Earth systems (climate, biodiversity and ecosystems). Climate change is occurring simultaneously with challenges such as biodiversity loss, population spikes and shifts, overconsumption and overstretching of the Earth’s natural capacity and resources, socioeconomic phenomena such as inequity, injustice and health concerns. The spotlight is on climate risk in terms of vulnerability, exposure, resilience, adaptation, equity and justice especially climate justice. Notably, efforts by people to respond to climate change can further trigger risk. Adaptation refers to making the best of what happens while maintaining function, or better still evolving (transforming) to better.

This report continues from the fifth assessment report of 2013 on the same. It has been arrived at using new climate models and methods, increased knowledge of the workings of the climate system, and palaeodata in order to have considerably more accurate results. To start, the notable surge in greenhouse gas concentrations from 1750 to today is from human influence. Measurements puts carbon dioxide at 410 parts per million (ppm) each year, methane at 1866 parts per billion (ppb), nitrous oxide at 332 ppb, perfluorocarbons at 109 parts per trillion (ppt), sulphur hexafluoride at 10 ppt, nitrogen trifluoride at 2 ppt and hydrofluorocarbons at 237 ppt. The natural carbon sinks of land and water remove a continuous 56% of carbon emissions from the air every year for the last sixty years and this depending on the region. For the last 40 years, each 10 years have been warmer than the preceding ten, noted against a baseline of 1850. From 2001-2020 global surface temperatures were 0.99 (0.84