Last year’s extreme weather events, including heat waves, wildfires and the unprecedented melting of sea ice were the worst in history.

These may have been caused by climate tipping points triggered by the worsening climate crisis. This year the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), in its State of the Global Climate 2023 report, confirmed the worst fears. The year 2023 was the warmest year on record, and global warming was now 1.45 o C above pre-industrial average, just 0.05 o C below the limit prescribed by the Paris Agreement.

We are now at the very edge of the climate precipice. The current methods of addressing global warming are not working, and new methods of dealing with the crisis are needed. It has also become imperative to begin re-examining the impact of the post 1.5 o C scenario on the world’s critical resources, most importantly food and energy.

This seminar will begin by recalling the extreme weather events that have dominated the world’s weather recently and their relation to climate tipping points. These tipping points have potential impacts on the global product supply chains. Most concerningly, the complete extent of the threat they pose to global food production and supply chains is still unknown.

The current methods of climate change mitigation will be briefly discussed. There is a need for more effective solutions that employ new thinking to explore new grounds and alternative routes. The seminar will end by noting the important role academia is playing in addressing the climate issue, and considering how it can improve its own efficacy, and combine forces with non-governmental climate groups and think tanks, to provide the needed leadership for change.

Anirudh Singh is a researcher/writer/consultant in Renewable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation and a former Professor in Renewable Energy. He is currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Southern Queensland.

Professor Singh has developed a Masters in Renewable Energy Management program, written and edited three books in renewable energy and climate change mitigation (for IOP Publishing and Springer Nature), and authored an expository book in physics titled Concepts and the Foundations of Physics for AIP Publishing. He has led two EU-funded energy capacity-building projects involving a global consortium of universities, section-edited the Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation (Springer) and been an Expert Reviewer of the Second and First Order Drafts of the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). Dr. Singh has successfully completed the supervision of fifteen MSc. research projects.

Anirudh earned his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics from Leicester University, UK, and an M.Sc. in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from Auckland University, New Zealand. He has worked as a researcher in muon implantation studies in the UK and Canada.

Anirudh’s current interest is in the development of the ongoing energy transition towards achieving the goal of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 o C. He is currently producing the second edition of his book Talking Renewables – A Renewable Energy Primer for Everyone, published by IOP Science in 2018. Most recently, he has been awarded a contract with the CRC Press (Part of the Taylor and Francis Group) to produce a book titled Climate Change and the Energy Transition: The Road to Net Zero. This is expected to be released in May 2025.

Event Recap

On 19th July 2021, the IEEE ACT Section student branch hosted an enlightening seminar by Professor Anirudh Singh on “The Climate Crisis – The Writing is on the Wall.” The event was held at UNSW’s Canberra Campus.

Professor Singh is a researcher, writer, and consultant in Renewable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation and a former Professor in Renewable Energy.  He currently serves as an Honorary Professor at the University of Southern Queensland.

The theme of the seminar was chosen in response to the alarming increase in reports recently of a worsening climate crisis, including recent extreme weather events, such as heat waves and wildfires, as well as the unprecedented melting of sea ice. which were the worst in history. These may have been caused by climate tipping points triggered by the worsening climate crisis.

Highlights of the key points of the seminar are given below.

Seminar Highlights

• Climate at the Abyss: Professor Singh highlighted that the world is teetering on the edge of a climate abyss. He discussed how extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, polar ice is melting at an accelerated pace, ecosystems are collapsing, and climate authorities are warning that the critical threshold of 1.5°C increase is approaching rapidly.
• Irreversible Climate Tipping Points: Triggering climate tipping points can lead to irreversible changes in the Earth’s climate system. The collapse of ecosystems could disrupt animal food chains, inevitably leading to the collapse of human food supply chains and agricultural production systems.
• Global Warming and Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI): Global warming results from the imbalance between incoming solar radiation and the Earth’s outgoing infrared radiation due to greenhouse gases (GHGs). Since the 1970s, this imbalance has been present, with the missing energy being absorbed by the Earth’s climate system.
• Paris Agreement Shortcomings: Despite the Paris Agreement, progress towards reducing fossil fuel emissions has been minimal. Efforts to prevent a climate catastrophe are falling short, calling for new and innovative approaches.
• Exploring Additional Strategies: One major shortcoming of the Paris Agreement is its reliance on a single strategy—emissions reductions. Professor Singh emphasized the need to explore additional strategies to combat climate change effectively.
• Role of Academia: Academia can support the fight against global warming by promoting interdisciplinary information flow and sharing the accumulated wisdom of various industries. It is crucial to think and plan for life in a world with an unstable climate system.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Professor Anirudh Singh for his insightful presentation and to everyone who attended and participated in the seminar. We look forward to continuing this critical discussion on the climate crisis and exploring potential solutions. Special thanks to Lily, IEEE ACT SECTION chair, for her support in making this event possible. Stay tuned for more events and updates from IEEE ACT Section as we work together to address the climate crisis.

Caption: Prof. Singh (3rd from right) flanked by members of the organizing committee and the audience