A major new climate change report has been described as 'a code red for humanity'.
The groundbreaking report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says 'human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land' and warns that the world is running out of time to avert catastrophic climate change.
Now, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is once again urging homeowners to do their part and to adopt greener gardening practices.
'Today's IPCC report is a sobering reminder of the impact of climate change and the part we all have to play in reducing emissions and protecting our planet for the future,' says RHS Director of Science, Professor Alistair Griffiths.
The RHS published Gardening in a Changing Climate in 2017, providing recommendations on how gardeners can adapt to climate change through plant choice and garden design.
'With an estimated 30 million gardeners in the UK our gardens, plots and even pots can make a difference through delivering services previously provided by the natural environment; such as reducing water run-off and minimising flooding, drawing and storing carbon from the atmosphere and helping to shade and cool urban areas,' continues Professor Griffiths. 'By adopting greener gardening practices we can all contribute towards stemming the tide of climate change and be better placed to weather extreme climate events.'
The new IPCC report is the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change.
UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said the report is a 'code red for humanity', warning: 'The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible.'
Guterres said immediate action is needed, explaining that global warming is nearing its limit. 'We are already at 1.2 degrees and rising,' he revealed. 'The internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is perilously close. We are at imminent risk of hitting 1.5 degrees in the near term. The only way to prevent exceeding this threshold is by urgently stepping up our efforts, and pursuing the most ambitious path.'
The report comes ahead of the key climate summit in Glasgow known as COP26. The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021.
Key points in the report reveals:
• It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.
• Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened since the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
• Global surface temperature will continue to increase until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered. Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades.
• Continued global warming is projected to further intensify the global water cycle, including its variability, global monsoon precipitation and the severity of wet and dry events.
• Many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for centuries to millennia, especially changes in the ocean, ice sheets and global sea level.
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15 eco-friendly products you can buy to stop plastic pollution
Aside from being travel-friendly, shampoo bars are generally less expensive than their liquid counterparts, providing more value as one bar lasts longer than a bottle (one bar can replace up to two x 250ml bottles). Made with cacao butter and honey extract, this wild coconut shampoo bar is worth adding to your bathroom cabinet.
Made out of the loofah plant and natural cotton string, this dishwashing sponge is 100 per cent compostable. As well as being kind to the planet, each sponge is super soft so won't scratch any pots, pans or dishes.
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Make washing up more exciting with this cactus and beech wood non-scratch dish brush. Helping to& minimise waste at home, it also has a replaceable head so you can simply swap it out when it gets worn.
Personalised Liberty Print Reusable Face Wipes
Wipe they day away with these reusable face wipes — made from stylish Liberty London prints. Use to cleanse or remove makeup, and then pop in the washing machine once you're done.
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White Lion Publishing Sustainable Home: Practical projects, tips and advice for maintaining a more eco-friendly household
Need some advice on how to live a greener life? This hardback book — filled with tips, tricks and advice — is the ultimate bible for living sustainably. From the living room to the kitchen, you'll find all you need to lead a more low-impact lifestyle.
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Spruce up your kitchen with this bamboo utensil set and matching pot. Simple yet stylish, it's the ultimate way to create en eco-friendly kitchen.
Before you embark on your weekly clean, make sure you pick up these compostable sponges — made from cellulose wood fibres. With many cleaning sponges made of petrochemicals, this eco alternative is great to consider.
Compostable Wheat Drinking Straws
Planning a garden party? Add these compostable wheat drinking straws to the top of your shopping list. Sourced from local farms in South East Asia, the straws will break down naturally after use (and are great popped on a compost heap).
Tried and tested, these reusable cotton buds are a sustainable alternative to plastic stemmed cotton buds. Each one comes in a lovely pastel case, making it ideal for taking on holiday.
Provide nutrient-rich food for your garden by collecting scraps and waste in a compost bin. Crafted from powder coated steel, this sustainable kitchen must-have has been finished in an urban charcoal colourway.
There's nothing better than a simple bar of soap, such as this one from Faith in Nature. Made with 100 per cent natural fragrance and essential oils, it's a must for every bathroom.
Looking for some eco-friendly toilet paper? Well, this premium bamboo range from Who Gives A Crap has been made using biodegradable bamboo. Better still, with each box sold, they make a donation to ethical charities that help build toilets for developing countries.
