Photo @Dating Zhu on Unsplash

The first assessment in eight years from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released today highlights the need for swift action by policymakers in the United States and abroad to address the increasing impacts of climate change, which are severe and threaten people worldwide. 

The following is a statement by Mitchell Bernard, president of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. If we fail—and we must not—millions of people will suffer unbearable hardship, loss and even death from climate catastrophe. The dire IPCC report makes abundantly clear that policymakers everywhere must take swift, decisive action to combat global climate change. They must slash harmful pollution, hasten the transition to clean and safe sources of energy while safeguarding the most vulnerable communities and making them more resilient to the devastating havoc wrought by climate change. 

“A world besieged by raging wildfires, massive floods, extreme heat, tropical cyclones and killer storms—all supercharged by climate change—is already upon us. We still have time to take the necessary actions to limit the Earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). But that window is fast closing. So, we must act immediately. 

“Globally, countries must commit to deeper cuts in climate pollution, stop destroying intact forests, protect nature and build resilient communities. In addition, financiers must stop backing fossil fuel infrastructure and extraction. They all need to act like there’s no tomorrow; it’s that stark.”