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Key findings for the Pacific from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change

Key findings for the Pacific from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change

Key findings for the Pacific from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Mitigation of Climate Change.

An overview of findings for the Pacific form the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) sixth assessment report (AR6) on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.

Freshwater systems in Pacific nations are exposed to many diverse climate impacts and are among the most threatened on the planet.

Marine habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds are being damaged and in some cases destroyed. Marine habitats are being impacted by increasing ocean temperature, sea level rise, extreme weather events, reduced ocean oxygen levels and ocean acidification. The loss of habitats negatively impacts many marine species and shoreline protection.

Adaptation options for infrastructure, people and coastal ecosystems will be required in both near-term and long-term due to sea level rise. Changes in rainfall patterns have resulted in almost-annual flood events that damage major assets and threaten livelihoods. This has already occured in urban areas of Fiji and Kiribati

Health risks associated with climate change are projected to increase with the scale of impacts depending on emissions pathways. Health risks can arise from exposures to extreme weather and climate events, particularly increases in cyclone intensity, floods, droughts and heat waves.

The projected impacts of climate change on agriculture and fisheries will undermine food production systems, but in some cases enhance productivity. Impacts of climate change on food production include warming temperatures, severe cyclones, sea level rise, floods and droughts, saltwater intrusion into freshwater and soils, as well as loss of fish stocks from ocean warming and acidification. These can all increase instances of food insecurity and malnutrition in Pacific Island nations

Increased frequency, insensity and duration of climate change induced extreme weather events are causing widespread and severe impacts on individuals communities and infrastructure as well as ecosystems and their services.