Stark findings on climate change

MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
29 January 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
ADVANCE for 2 February 2007
STARK FINDINGS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
PARIS (FRANCE), 2 February 2007 — The world’s leading scientific experts are set to deliver the latest, starkest findings on climate change.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change begins its release of the long anticipated Fourth Assessment Report in Paris on 2 February 2007, which is set to provide the most credible evidence yet of the human link to climate change and its devastating impacts.
The report which has taken six years to compile draws on research by 2,500 scientists from over 130 countries and should shock the world into taking urgent action to reduce global emissions.
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth’s International Climate Campaigner, said:
“This report will show with unquestionable certainty that we are to blame for the last 50 years of warming. The recorded changes in our climate, which had been predicted to start many years from now are already upon us – and with some bleak predictions to come. We can no longer afford to ignore growing and compelling warnings from the world’s leading experts.
“Further delays in agreements at the international level are unacceptable in light of these findings. Governments in the industrialised world should be leading the way by going further than existing national action and working with others to secure urgent agreement on a more effective second round of Koyto starting in 2013.
Clearly stronger targets for industrialised countries, greater attention to adaptation needs and assistance to developing countries to follow a low carbon economy are all required elements. ”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth’s International Climate Campaigner will be present in Paris for the: 10th Working Group I Session from Wednesday 31st January (meeting starts Monday 29th) at the Salle II of the UNESCO Building in Paris.
Press conference to present the approved text of the Summary for Policymakers of the Report at 9.30 AM Central European Time on Friday, 2 February at: Salle IV, Mezzanine Floor), UNESCO Conference Centre, 125, Av de Suffren, 75007 Paris

BACKGROUND to the Fourth Assessment Report:
The report is broken down into four sections.
The timing for publication of each section is as follows:
2 February – Working Group I, Science of climate change
6 April – Working Group II, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
4 May – Working Group III, Mitigation
Mid November – Final Synthesis Report, covering key findings of all three Working Groups.
Working Group I – The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change, will assess: What progress has been made in understanding and attributing climate change?
What do observations of the atmosphere, oceans, sea level, snow and ice tell us?
How has climate been behaving in the last hundreds of thousands of years?
What are the projections of future changes?
The Report includes significantly advanced observations of the climate system, presents new projections of future global climate change using results from 19 climate models, all with improved representations of physics, chemistry, and spatial resolution. The report also covers the range of anthropogenic greenhouse gases and other factors that drive climate change.
BACKGROUND the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
Recognising the problem of potential global climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the IPCC in 1988. It is open to all members of the UN and WMO.
The role of the IPCC is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It bases its assessment mainly on peer reviewed and published scientific/technical literature.
The First IPCC Assessment Report was completed in 1990. The Report played an important role in establishing the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by the UN General Assembly. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994. It provides the overall policy framework for addressing the climate change issue.
The IPCC has continued to provide scientific, technical and socio-economic advice to the world community, and in particular to the Parties to the UNFCCC through its periodic assessment reports and special reports. Its Second Assessment Report, Climate Change 1995, provided key input to the negotiations, which led to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC in 1997.
The Third Assessment Report (TAR), Climate Change 2001, was completed in 2001. It was submitted to the 7th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and Parties agreed that it should be used routinely as a useful reference for providing information for deliberations on agenda items of the Conference of the Parties.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth’s International Climate Campaigner: mobile: +44 (0)7811 283641
IN FRENCH:
Caroline Prak, Friends of the Earth France Press officer +33-6 86415343 or +33-1-48513222