Memorandum for the Petitioners | 30
conditions. Climate change will “reduce the populations,
vigor, and viability” of many species, especially those with
spatially restricted populations, and will increase the
extinction risk for many species. Climate change-driven
forest dieback,” which has already been observed in many
regions globally, will have potentially significant impacts on
climate, biodiversity, water quality, wood production, and
livelihoods. The composition of coastal and estuarine
ecosystems will be altered by sea level rise, changes in
precipitation and river flow, increased water temperatures,
and ocean acidification, and this will contribute to a decline
in biodiversity and ecosystem productivity along coastlines.
Climate change is already altering the physical, chemical,
and biological properties of marine ecosystems, with the
shift in distribution of many fish and invertebrates poleward
and/or toward deeper, cooler waters, carrying serious
implications for marine productivity and food security in
tropical areas.
Effects on Buildings, Infrastructure, and Services:
Climate change “will have profound impacts on a broad
spectrum of city functions, infrastructures, and services and
will interact with and may exacerbate many existing
stresses.” For example, extreme weather events and sea level
rise will damage and destroy buildings and infrastructure,
particularly on coastlines. Rising temperatures and heavy
precipitation will adversely affect critical transportation,
water, and electric infrastructure in many areas. Decreases in
precipitation and freshwater resources will pose a major
challenge for the management of water supply, irrigation
systems, and hydroelectric dams.
r
'
Expanding Disease Vectors: Increases in heavy rain
and temperature will increase the risk of vector-bome
diseases, such as malaria and dengue, in many parts of the
world.85 (Emphasis supplied)
r
5.15. In addition to the Assessment Reports, the IPCC also produces
Special Reports, which are an assessment on a specific issue.86 As part of the
decision to adopt the Paris Agreement, the IPCC was invited to produce in
2018 a Special Report on global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways.87
5.16. The IPCC accepted the invitation, adding that the Special Report
would look at these issues in the context of strengthening the global response
to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to
eradicate poverty. The IPCC Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (“IPCC
SR 1.5”) is the first in a series of Special Reports to be produced in the AR6
cycle (to be released in 2021-2022).
Joint Summary Amicus Brief, supra note 50, pp. 33-34, citing IPCC 2014 AR5 Synthesis Report
IPCC Reports, https://www.ipcc.ch/ reports/, (last accessed on 12 September 2019).
87
IPCC (2014 ), Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report, supra note 70.
85
86
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents