(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 28 - "The increase in extreme weather and climatic conditions" - including heat waves, droughts and floods - "has had some irreversible impacts since natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt", causing "a mass die-off in species such as trees and corals".
These extreme weather events have "cascading impacts increasingly difficult to manage" and have "exposed millions of people to severe food and water insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Small Islands and the Arctic."
This was stated by the scientists of the National Climate Change Experts (IPCC) in the second part dedicated to "Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability" of the Sixth Assessment Report which will be completed by the end of the year.
The IPCC provides political leaders with periodic scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and risks, and proposes adaptation and mitigation strategies.
"To avoid a growing loss of human life, biodiversity and infrastructure, we need ambitious and accelerated action to adapt to climate change, while rapidly and profoundly reducing greenhouse gas emissions" warn scientists that "the cities where it lives more than half of the world's population are at the center of the impacts and risks of climate change but they are also a crucial part of the solution ".
But "any further delay in concerted global action with the involvement of local communities too will miss a short window that will close quickly to ensure a viable future".
Which is also guaranteed by nature which has a "potential not only to reduce climate risks, but also to improve people's lives":
"Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide vital services such as food and clean water."
(HANDLE).