Release of IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, and what it means for Japan

“Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying” is the clear message from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), when it released its Sixth Assessment Report on August 9. The climate crisis hammer has swung. We will have to endure pain. And we must act immediately to avoid the worst of it.

IPCC reports are collaborative documents compiled by leading scientists from around the world. Backed by scientific data and evidence, the report is supposed to appeal and make suggestions to policymakers. And in this sixth assessment, the messenger brings bad news.

We are almost out of time in this climate crisis

For example, extreme weather will not be subsiding and will become even more severe for us. Get ready, as rainfalls, floods, droughts, wildfires and heatwaves will be more frequent throughout the world. Sea levels are also rising, cueing a possible 2-meter increase, and, consequently, more climate refugees.

There are no brakes for temperature rise now, as it will continue to rise for a few decades no matter how much we cut our emissions. In all five scenarios of risks, we are projected to hit 1.5 degrees by 2040, and we will race to 2 degrees without immediate and deep cuts.

Beyond 2 degrees, we can expect the worst impacts of climate change, so we must act today. We need to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade, and reach net-zero emissions globally by 2050.

The report has also stated that human activity has “unequivocally” led to the climate crisis. It is us who must stop it and take action.

What does Japan need to do

Many Japanese are facing the brunt of the effects from climate change. Flooding and typhoons are consistently getting stronger, with the weather swinging like a pendulum between extremes. Last month, continuous rainfall caused 300,000 residents to evacuate and seek refuge in Shimane and Tottori Prefectures. The latest typhoon on August 9 also renewed the rainfall records.

In addition, infrastructure is often damaged by extreme weather events, especially in the case of landslide disasters. Lives are often lost. Not forgetting that there are many coastal cities in Japan too. Osaka will face obscene financial loss should it suffer coastal flooding, even a danger of parts of the city going underwater. No doubt, livelihoods will be threatened further. Fisheries’ yield had fallen half in the past decade, and Hokkaido’s kombu industry faces decimation.

Japan has always been a few steps behind implementing policies. In March 2020, Japan announced that it would aim for a 26% decrease in Nationally Determined Contributions, which would have been insufficient against the 1.5 degrees target. Earlier this year, in April, it announced a target of a 46% decrease, but without concrete plans. It’s high time for the government to finally prioritize what is truly important and find motivation for actual action.

CAN-Japan has released a statement to call for the total abolition of fired power generation and make a bigger commitment to renewable energy. 34% of Japan’s electricity still depends on coal, making Japan rank 6th globally in coal consumption. Friends of the Earth Japan has been holding demonstrations recently in front of Japanese banks to stop financing coal, which seemed to have fallen on deaf shareholder ears.

The IPCC report will provide fuel for activists and environmental groups in Japan like Fridays for Future Japan to demonstrate and advocate for policy changes.

No more crying over spilled milk

We have been drowsy waking up to the danger, and now the latest IPCC report should be a slap in the face for full attention. There is still a slim chance to meet the 1.5 degrees target if we can take immediate action.

And we must take action. The report is not trying to stir fear in us. I’d rather think that scientists are tired of policymakers ignoring them. And that is where we step in.

It is not only a good time to relook at how we can lead a lifestyle without burdening the environment, like researching and choosing to buy ethical products, and avoid those that sacrifice nature. We must also start pressuring governments, look them in the eye and ask, “What are you doing for zero carbon emissions?” Vote with each currency you spend, and most importantly, with your voice.