Climate Change: Pacific faces challenges if global temperatures keep rising [1]
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 18:47. Updated on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 - 18:48.
The Pacific region faces huge challenges should the world warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius by the early 2030s, warns an Australian climate change expert after a UN scientific report was released yesterday.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report [2] makes it clear that temperatures are rising.
Australian National University Professor Mark Howden, who is Vice-Chair of IPCC and a contributing author to the report said that temperature increases could climb as high as 5.7 degrees Celsius this century, with dire consequences for Pacific nations.
Impacts likely to occur across the region include dramatic and devastating sea level rise and greater water scarcity.
Cyclones more intense
“This impending sea level rise will create compound events with other climate factors. For example, although the Pacific is projected to generally face fewer cyclones under future warming, they are likely to become more intense.”
These conditions will worsen already deadly storm surge events in countries like Fiji and Vanuatu, he said.
“And despite a projected increase in rainfall with future climate change in the equatorial Pacific, many locations will likely face greater water scarcity due to saltwater intrusion from rising seas and higher rates of potential evaporation due to increased temperatures.”
According to Professor Howden, the report confirms it is not possible to achieve the low level of warming aimed for in the Paris Agreement unless we stop emitting high levels of greenhouse gases.
“If we don’t start to reduce our emissions significantly before 2050, the world is extremely likely to exceed 2 degrees Celsius of warming during the 21st century.”
Pacific countries lead climate change fight
Countries in the Pacific, along with other Small Island Developing States, will lead the fight for a sub-1.5 degrees Celsius world by advocating for ambitious updates to all national commitments at the UN Climate Change Conference later this year.
“They will do this by leading by example – setting strong targets and uniting under a common vision – a world in which we do not cross the line of 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 10 years, or ever,” said Professor Howden.
“It is vital Australia and other non-Pacific nations join them.”
Ms ‘Ofa Ma’asi-Kaisamy, Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre in Apia, Samoa, said our Pacific Island leaders have consistently stated that climate change is the biggest threat facing the region.
"The Pacific Islands are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as it affects a range of sectors vital for survival and sustainable development of the Pacific communities and our unique environments."
Reduce emissions
Meanwhile, there is still a chance to stop global temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius, with "many emerging opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.
“This includes transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy as rapidly as possible, decarbonising transport, reducing emissions from agriculture, and drawing down and storing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions,” said Professor Howden.