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February 04, 2005
We Have an Answer
Posted to Author: Pielke Jr., R. | Climate Change
On Monday I asked, “Some members of the climate science community are gathered this week in Exter, UK at a meeting titled, "Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change." Is this meeting for scientists to inform policy makers on a range of possible goals for climate stabilization and a range of means to achieve those goals, or is it a strategy of political advocacy designed to support adoption of a particular goal over others?”
The Steering Committee for the meeting has published its report summarizing the meeting which provides a definitive answer:
“Limiting climate change to 2 deg C implies stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of all greenhouse gases. The CO2 concentration must not exceed 500ppmv, if the climate sensitivity is 2.5 deg C. Global emissions would need to peak in 2020 and decline to 3.1 GtC/year by 2095… Major investment is needed now in both mitigation and adaptation. The first is essential to minimise future impacts and the latter is essential to cope with impacts which cannot be avoided in the near to medium term.”
If the Exter conference is indicative of the direction that the IPCC will be taking in its Fourth Assessment Report, then it will be remembered as a key milestone in the continuing evolution of the IPCC from honest broker to political advocate.
Posted on February 4, 2005 01:29 AM