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In the last two weeks, two major reports were released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): "Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change" (WGIII) and "Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability" (WGII). The conclusions will be integrated in a Synthesis Report to be considered in the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, from 30 November to 11 December 2015.  The report "Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change" shows that global emissions of greenhouse gases have risen to unprecedented levels despite a growing number of policies to reduce climate change and concludes that it would be possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behaviour, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The Working Group III contribution assessed the options for mitigating climate change and their underlying technological, economic and institutional requirements. It transparently laid out risks, uncertainty and ethical foundations of climate change mitigation policies on the global, national and sub-national level, investigated mitigation measures for all major sectors and assessed investment and finance issues.
On the other hand, the report, titled "Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability", from Working Group II of the IPCC, detailed the impacts of climate change to date, the future risks from a changing climate, and the opportunities for effective action to reduce risks. It also enhanced that the risks will be
difficult to manage with high levels of warming.
The Working Group II contribution considered the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems, the observed impacts and future risks of climate change, and the potential for and limits to adaptation. The chapters of the report assessed risks and opportunities for societies, economies, and ecosystems around the world.
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) aims to provide a clear and most up to date view of the current state of scientific knowledge relevant to climate change. It comprises of three Working Group (WG) reports and a Synthesis Report (SYR) which integrates and synthesize material in the WG reports for policymakers. The SYR will be considered in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 27-31 October 2015, and will be a basis for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Paris, France in 2015.
IPCC press releases on WGIII report and on WGII report
More information
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
IPCC Working Group III
Website
Summary for Policymakers
Final draft report
IPCC Working Group II
Website
Summary for Policymakers
Final draft report
IPCC Working Group I
Website
Summary for Policymakers
Final draft report
Some reactions to the new IPCC reports The Economist news item
Nature news item
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) press release
The European Environment Agency press release |
