Highlights and images for 21 March 2022

On Monday, 21 March, IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee welcomed delegates to the 56th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-56) and 14th Session of Working Group III (WGIII), which focuses on mitigation of climate change. Lee underscored the importance of the WGIII report on mitigation options, given the urgency of taking action on climate change.

In the opening session, Ligia Noronha, speaking on behalf of UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, reminded participants that a 1.5° C increase in global average temperature could be reached within a decade and urged accelerated action on adaptation while making deep cuts to emissions.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) highlighted the “manifestly insufficient ambition” currently submitted under the Paris Agreement and called for countries to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). She underscored the special role of G-20 nations, which account for 80% of emissions, and the need for governments to fulfill financial promises to support action on climate.

Greg Hands, UK Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, stressed the importance of collaboration given the stark choices facing the global community, adding that the IPCC report provides tangible information on the collective steps needed.

The IPCC then adopted its agenda, and Chair Lee suspended IPCC-56 until Friday, 1 April. WGIII Co-Chair Jim Skea opened WGIII-14, emphasizing that this session will take place “behind closed doors.” Over the next two weeks, participants will undertake line-by-line approval of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of WGIII’s contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, entitled “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change.”
WGIII then held two further plenary sessions. Participants reviewed sections of the SPM that address:

• recent developments and current trends in emissions of greenhouse gases, and
• linkages between mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development.

WGIII will continue its work on Tuesday.