Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Session Starts in Berlin
On the occasion of the IPCC session starting today Environment State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth acknowledged the work of the panel of scientists for the benefits of climate protection. "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges the international community has to cope with in this century. It is not least thanks to the IPCC that the international community has recognized this," Flasbarth said at the opening of the IPCC session.
"The IPCC is a unique institution. There is no other field of politics on the global level, where scientific findings are transferred to political decision-makers in such a direct way", he continued. In the course of the week more than 600 participants from more than 130 states will adopt the current IPCC report on possible measures to mitigate global warming.
"The present report is published at the right point in time to supply the scientific foundation for decisions to be taken, because we are facing important basic choices on the international level," continued Flasbarth. He said that the international community must conclude a comprehensive and ambitious climate agreement at the UN climate conference in Paris at the end of 2015, in which all states commit themselves to reduction obligations as of 2020 onwards. "It is only by deciding on significant emission reductions and implementing them that we still have a chance to limit global warning to somewhat manageable levels. We cannot afford to reduce our climate action efforts", said Flasbarth.
The text to be adopted in Berlin is part of the 5th Assessment Report by IPCC. Every 6 to 7 years, IPCC Assessment Reports summarize the scientific knowledge of climate research. The 5th Report will comprise four parts, published between September 2013 and October 2014 and to be adopted at an IPCC plenary session beforehand. The first part was published last autumn and clearly confirmed that the climate is changing due to anthropogenic activities. The second part published at the beginning of last week in Japan confirmed that an unrestricted increase in emissions together with a global warming of 4° Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels presents very high risks for mankind, societies and ecosystems. The third part of the report to be adopted in Berlin will contain statements concerning the political, technological and economic options for limiting global warming to 2° Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. This part is to be published next Sunday (13 April).
The concluding fourth part, the so-called Synthesis Report, is to summarize the key findings and interlinkages of the preceding three parts of the report. It is to be debated, adopted and published at the end of October this year.