The sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations (UN) body, reveals that between 2010 and 2019, average annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide will reach the highest levels on record.

As such, immediate changes are required in all sectors if the goals of the Paris Agreement are to be achieved and global warming is to be limited to 1.5°C. Emissions must be reduced by 43% by 2030 and at the same time methane emissions must be reduced by about one-third.

Still, climate action is having results. As they present in the paper, the rate of global GHG emissions has decreased, and since 2010, solar and wind power and battery costs have already been reduced by 85%. The authors note that implemented policies and laws have contributed to improved energy efficiency, reduced deforestation rates, and accelerated renewable energy deployment.

"The decisions we make now can guarantee a livable future. We have the tools and know-how [knowledge] needed to limit warming. I am encouraged by the climate action that is being taken in many countries. There are policies, regulations, and market instruments that are proving effective. If these are scaled up and applied more widely and equitably, they can support deep emissions reductions and stimulate innovation," says Hoesung Lee, chairman of the IPCC, quoted by Green Severs.

In the energy sector, the changes must occur by reducing the use of fossil fuels and switching to alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, and by increasing electrification and energy efficiency. In industry, the transition involves using materials more efficiently, reusing and recycling products, and minimizing waste.

The role of cities and urban areas, on the other hand, is to reduce emissions by reducing energy consumption, electrifying public transportation, investing in renewable energy, and expanding nature.

"Climate change is the result of more than a century of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles, and consumption and production patterns," assures Jim Skea, co-chair of IPCC Working Group III. "This report shows how acting now can lead us to a more just and sustainable world."