A new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released today warns that the increasingly numerous and widespread impacts of climate change — including events such as heat waves, extreme weather, and mass species extinction already occurring across the globe — may soon overcome the ability of humans and nature to adapt unless immediate action is taken to greatly reduce fossil fuel emissions.

In a statement released today, IPCC chair Hoesung Lee said, “This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction. It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.”

The IPCC’s report also finds that nations are not doing enough to reduce emissions and protect themselves from climate hazards — and says few countries are escaping unscathed. The risks are especially high for developing nations.

Drawing upon an extensive body of work on climate change science and impacts, the National Academies are working to raise awareness on the urgency for action and are identifying solutions to help society reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change, and build resiliency and equity. For instance, a recent National Academies report identifies a number of actions that can be taken now to help the U.S. fairly and equitably transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Learn more about our work on climate change by visiting the resources below.

• Climate Resources at the National Academies

• Getting to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050