New U.N. Report Says Climate Change Leading to “Escalating Hazards”

Following two major storm systems that caused massive flooding and power outages in the U.S. last week, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its newest report. The press release’s headline warned, “Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all.”

As climate change continues to accelerate, some cities will become safer than others due to their protection from weather patterns, erosion, and ocean flooding. Extreme weather events will become more common without change.

The IPCC Climate Change 2023 report says that our actions in the next decade could slow global warming… or push us past the 1.5ºC barrier. If we keep going at the current pace, the risk of severe weather events and devastating food shortages will rise.

“Almost half of the world’s population lives in regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change,” Aditi Mukherji, one of the authors of the IPCC report, said in the press release. “In the last decade, deaths from floods, droughts, and storms were 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions.”

Climate change is affecting the weather and causing devastating damage to people in nature around the world.

Reaching net zero isn’t just about cutting emissions anymore. It’s also about thinking through the supply chain for goods and food and how we use transportation, electricity, and land. Focusing on a low-carbon lifestyle can make a difference, and if individuals stop using fossil fuels, it will prompt a change in governments and corporations.

Last year, our friends at Business.org spoke with Tom Drennen, a professor of economics and environmental studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, about how small businesses can prepare for climate change. A lot of those steps resonate for individuals and homes as well.

Homeowner’s insurance is the first step, and we break down homeowners insurance costs to help you choose. Of course, check coverage policies because some may be best for flooding (like Farmers) or tornadoes (like Progressive). You don’t want tornado coverage in California or flood coverage in the great plains.

The next step is to move towards sustainable energy sources. We rounded up sustainable smart home tech options, and we’re big fans of making your home energy-efficient year-round. But did you know there are also solar-powered versions of our favorite security cameras and outdoor lights? It’s true! And it makes it easier to lower your energy costs and help reduce fossil fuel dependency in your community.

Finally, the U.N. report mentions reducing our fossil fuel consumption. One easy way to do that is to rethink your commute. Can you take public transportation to work? How about walking or biking instead of driving?

Every little bit helps now. As U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said, the IPCC report is “a how-to guide to defuse the climate time bomb. It is a survival guide for humanity.”

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