Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established in 1988 as a part of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). It is a worldwide body that brings scientists, policymakers, researchers and others together to discuss and find solutions to climate change. The IPCC's goal in educating the world about climate changes and presenting possible solutions is to do so.
The Panel is composed of non-partisan representatives who have been appointed by the governments. These representatives are selected by governments to be scientists in the IPCC meetings. They also recruit experts and draft reports. A government can also nominate its own scientists for the Panel. This does not mean that the government supports the views of a scientist.
IPCC's structure includes three working groups that focus on different aspects of climate science. One group deals with the physical science, the other two deal with adaptation and mitigation. Each group has a Co-Chair. Both Cochairs are also members the IPCC Bureau. They advise the chair about the selection and preparation of the meetings.
The Working Group I, the first of these groups, focuses primarily on the physical science behind climate change and its consequences. Its members include one of world's most respected climate research centres, the Met Office Hadley Centre.
The Working Group II assesses the effects of climate change on people and ecosystems, and proposes measures to mitigate climate change. It includes the Australian Government, which contributes to IPCC decisions and manages DFAT Trust Fund.
Working Group III, which examines mitigation options and the economic and socio-economic impacts of climate changes, is the third working group. Its members include the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development.
The IPCC's reports are created by hundreds of scientists around the world in volunteer groups. They evaluate scientific literature and make recommendations based on the latest research. An IPCC assessment report is a comprehensive review of current climate change knowledge. A report may be published in up to four parts.
Summary for Policymakers refers to a summary of all the IPCC reports. This report is usually most interesting to the general public and journalists. IPCC reports are available to everyone and are reviewed by a variety of experts. The IPCC worked closely with practitioners and communication experts for the Fifth Assessment Report.
IPCC held an Expert Meeting on Communication on February 16, 2016. IPCC adopted several recommendations for effective communication at the meeting. Some of these suggestions were included in the outreach activities of the IPCC and on the IPCC website.
In September 2019, the IPCC published the Special Report of Ocean and Cryosphere under Changing Climates. The IPCC is working to prepare for the publication of the Sixth Assessment Report (6AR6). It provides a comprehensive review on current climate change knowledge. As with previous assessment reports, this report will be published in parts.
FAQ
Climate change: What is it and how can it happen?
Climate change refers the long-term shifts that occur in global weather patterns due to an increase in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat which causes global temperatures to rise. This can cause a wide range of changes in weather conditions and climate. These can include rising sea level, melting glaciers or droughts, widespread coral bleaching, species extinction and disruptions in food production.
Human activity is the major cause of climate change. When these activities release massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere it warms the planet at a much faster rate than natural processes like volcanic eruptions as these activities produce many times more emissions than volcanoes.
Global greenhouse gas emissions are also influenced by deforestation, which contributes about 15-20%. Trees are destroyed or burned to release their carbon dioxide. Additionally, forests act as a natural carbon sink that removes CO2 from the air; without this absorptive capacity, carbon dioxide levels will continue to rise with devastating consequences for ecosystems around the world.
The release of CO2 into the atmosphere is not the only effect of human-caused polluting. Other harmful gasses like methane, CH4, and nitrous dioxide (N2O), are also emitted by humans. Methane has been used extensively in industrial processes and contributes significantly to atmospheric warming while N2O is emitted primarily from agricultural soil management activities like fertilization or tilling which release excess levels of nitrogen into soil leading to N2O production upon microbial contact.
To minimize climate change humanity must make concerted efforts across social, economic, and political institutions to reduce these emissions drastically and transition away from our dependence on fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power, or low-carbon hydrogen fuels. The smart solution to reduce CO2 accumulation and atmospheric pollution could be replacing polluting fossil energy sources with zero-waste solutions. Our environmental impacts can be reduced by adopting preservation measures like reforestation. These projects help to preserve biodiversity and absorb large amounts CO2 from the environment. This helps in addressing climate change and restoring balance for future generation.
What is the state of international efforts for climate change mitigation?
The current international climate-change effort is moving forward with unprecedented momentum and unity. Countries all over the world are now working together to reduce emissions, improve resilience against impacts, as well as invest in renewable energy sources.
The Paris Agreement is an international framework that encourages collective action. It also provides a framework to allow individual countries and regions to set voluntary targets to reduce emissions. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and (UNFCCC) provides political guidance, as well as piloting initiatives such a carbon market.
In certain regions, there is progress as well. The European Green Deal, for instance, is a comprehensive set of legislation that aims to rebuild Europe's economy while African countries have committed to the African Renewable Energy Initiative. This Initiative aims to increase Africa’s global share of renewable energy production.
Along with policy changes, action can be observed across all sectors and industries. Cities are actively moving toward sustainable public transport systems. Society as a whole is moving towards more sustainable lifestyles. Companies invent technologies that reduce carbon emissions. Investors are shifting their capital away to renewables.
The OECD committee has adopted common standards to report national actions on climate change by rich countries. This is known as the 2021 Guidelines.
These efforts demonstrate the importance of climate action. If we are to meet the Climate goals as set out by science and enshrined into international law, governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders must all continue to build on this momentum.
How does climate change affect the world's oceans and marine life?
What are the impacts of climate changes on the oceans, and marine life worldwide?
Since its inception climate change has significantly affected the world's oceans as well as the marine life associated with them. The depletion of the ozone layer, which causes constant oceanic warming, has caused major disruptions to marine ecosystems. This has led to coral bleaching and a decline in species.
Climate change is also responsible for unpredictable weather patterns and stronger storms, which can lead to dangerously high sea levels. Also, rising temperatures can reduce the oxygen levels in the water system, leading to "deadzones" that are areas with less marine life.
Ocean acidification is also a result of excess carbon dioxide that has built up in the oceans. This is due to climate change. Ocean acidification alters the pH balance, which makes it impossible for some animals, like oysters, crabs, and clams to adapt.
Higher temperatures can also alter natural habitats by changing their geographic locations or shrinking them together, thus becoming uninhabitable for certain species that depend on them. An increase in ocean pressure can cause a drastic imbalance between predators & prey and lead to the extinction of many species.
The impacts of climate change have rippled through entire ecosystems. They impact multiple species either directly or indirectly through evaporation, decreasing water volumes, or sharp temperature changes. This could jeopardize any sustainable development for fishing and other maritime activities. Climate change is transforming the future of all life forms on our planet, not just those living on land but those living below the ocean surface.
What are the consequences of climate change for society and the environment?
Climate Change has broad effects on both the environment and society. Climate change is causing a variety of environmental problems, including rising temperatures, extreme weather, sea level rise, and reduced air quality. These changes can have serious implications for human populations, creating instability in communities, intensifying poverty and insect-borne diseases, altering human migration patterns, and destroying vital habitats.
Already, climate changes are having wide-ranging and profound effects on the environment worldwide. As global temperatures rise, it is likely that this trend will continue in the near future.
Ocean levels rising due to melting ice caps is one of the most pervasive effects of climate change worldwide. This causes shoreline erosion along many coastlines and increases the risk of flooding for coastal communities. Also, saltwater intrusion occurs, which negatively affects freshwater supplies in coastal areas in many countries.
As a result, extreme weather events such heatwaves or droughts are common in many countries. These events cause mass destruction to homes and businesses, leading to displacement or relocation of communities or wiping out whole towns in some cases. Intense storms increase the risk of flooding and landslides. This can further damage infrastructure like roads, railways, and bridges.
Wildfires caused by climate change also increasingly occur more frequently than they did before with devastating results both for habitats and people living nearby who may find their lives at risk due to poor air quality when these fires spread smoke across affected areas.
Many people are forced to flee their homes due to drastic changes in their living conditions.
Dust storms are also increasing in severity worldwide due to increased aridity. This makes it more difficult for asthma sufferers and other respiratory conditions. The possibility of pest infestations increasing is linked to increased temperature extremes, a phenomenon known "greenhouse bug". This further impacts global food insecurity. A smaller number of crops with lower nutritional quality could lead to additional hardships for those already struggling to make ends met.
Statistics
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- According to the 2014 report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (page 8) from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, governments at various levels are also getting better at adaptation. (climate.nasa.gov)
- Fossil fuel production must decline by roughly 6 percent per year between 2020 and 2030. (un.org)
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- The 100 least-emitting countries generate 3 per cent of total emissions. (un.org)
External Links
How To
How to Invest in Clean Energy, and Support the Transition to Low-Carbon Future
Clean energy is a type of renewable power that doesn't produce any pollution or emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. It can include technologies such as solar photovoltaics, wind power and hydroelectricity. Investing in clean energy sources can have many environmental benefits, such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels, reducing the amount of air pollution generated by traditional electricity methods, and providing more reliable electrical access to remote locations.
By buying shares in companies involved in developing clean energy technologies, investors can get involved in these projects. This can include investing in publically traded stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) related to renewable energy. Direct investments in start-ups and venture capital projects can be an option for investors to help fund research and development of clean energy technologies.
Clean energy investors support innovation that reduces harmful emissions from electricity generation. This investment could lead to greater economic development as it may create jobs in the field of producing renewable energy systems, which require engineers and skilled labor. Finally, putting money into clean energy can provide investors with a financial return due to tax incentives programs that are incentivizing investments into green technologies like wind farms, solar panels, and biomass heat generation systems.
We can make a difference by investing in companies which create cleaner electricity from renewable resources, such as sun, winds, and water. While we are avoiding harmful activities to the environment, it is possible to support the transition toward a low-carbon future.