Inuit Review the IPCC 6th Assessment Report on The Physical Science Basis and Prepare for Crucial COP26 Talks in Glasgow

August 10, 2021 – Anchorage, Alaska – As the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) prepares for the United Nations Climate Meeting (COP 26) in Glasgow, Scotland this November the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) has drawn substantial attention. This report confirms once again what Inuit have been witnessing for over three decades – human induced climate change is real, and the Arctic is changing at a dramatic pace and under threat.

ICC Chair Dalee Sambo Dorough stated, “Inuit have moved beyond “if” climate change is real to action to protect Inuit Nunaat – our Inuit homeland –  including the Arctic land, sea ice and the Inuit way of life. Inuit have been calling for immediate action to contain temperature rise to 1.5^oc, as even this increase will see the reduction in Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost loss continue. Both the Policy Summary and the Technical Summary note with high confidence that the rate change continues, with sea ice becoming younger, thinner and more dynamic (very high confidence). Such change has severe consequences for our food security and multiple other aspects of our day to day lives.”

“Inuit recognized early that safeguarding the Arctic would protect the planet – however, these calls remain unheard. As an observer to the IPCC, ICC advocated for the co-production of knowledge to guide the AR6, which would include Indigenous Knowledge as an important knowledge source,” stated Lisa Koperqualuk, ICC Canada Vice-President (International).

The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report – The Physical Science Basis has taken eight years to develop. It represents the work of hundreds of scientists and represents the most comprehensive assessment to date of the physical aspects of climate change. The Physical Science Basis is one of three working group reports included in the AR6 Assessment cycle. Three other IPCC AR6 reports are due in 2022 including a synthesis report. It clearly lays out that human activity is absolutely the cause of rapid changes to the climate. These include melting polar ice and glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme heatwaves, and droughts.

-30-

Contact: