2021 was one of the hottest years on record, and extreme weather events are increasing in frequency around the world, from dangerous winter storms to devastating hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Climate change is also exacerbating other global threats like poverty and food insecurity, putting lives and livelihoods at risk in regions and communities that are already vulnerable. Given the challenges we face, having a comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of climate science is more important than ever. That’s where the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) comes in. Its gold-standard climate science reports inform debate and shape policymaking: Its 2018 special report is largely credited for shifting global ambition from limiting warming to 2°C to 1.5°C. The next two reports can be critical for helping everyone understand the impacts of climate change and develop solutions that benefit the environment and people alike.

The IPCC produces reports on the state of climate change every few years and is currently in its sixth “assessment cycle.” The two upcoming reports follow on the heels of last summer’s report on the physical science of climate change, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a “code red for humanity.” The next report will present an updated assessment of the impacts of climate change, our vulnerabilities to it, different options to adapt to address the effects of climate change, and how nature is adjusting to our adaptation efforts. Impacts of climate change include sea-level rise and more severe storms, for example, while vulnerabilities cover such things as exposure to more intense heat extremes. Adaptation refers to efforts that range from nature-based solutions, like restoring mangroves to protect coasts, to rewriting zoning codes to ensure that any new infrastructure is built a certain distance from wildfire-prone areas.

Produced by the IPCC’s Working Group II, this report will take a holistic view of impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, assessing these topics at the global and regional levels. The report will stress the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems, from climate systems and weather to ecosystem biodiversity to human health. For instance, drought not only results in dry land and reduced plant growth but also affects food production, which in turn has implications for livelihoods, nutrition, human health, and poverty. The report will also assess future risks from climate change at different warming levels and will present options for how policymakers can adopt an equitable and interdisciplinary approach to climate change adaptation.

Read the full article about climate change reporting by Alix Kashdan and Kristyn Ostanek at United Nations Foundation.