Bob Suchanek, Water and Wetlands Steward
IPCC Tackles Global Concerns
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was created by the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988. The IPCC is tasked with understanding climate change and its impacts as well as making recommendations for dealing with problems associated with it. Hundreds of expert authors from dozens of countries have contributed to six comprehensive assessment reports, the latest published in 2021 and 2022.
Each IPCC report is authored by experts in three Working Groups. Group 1 focuses on the physical science of climate change. Expertise is provided primarily by climatologists, meteorologists, physical geographers, atmospheric physicists, and hydrologists. Group 2 examines the ecological and social aspects of climate change. Scientific experts include botanists, zoologists, marine biologists, ecologists, geoscientists, human geographers, urban scientists, agricultural scientists, economists, sociologists, and archaeologists. Group 3 experts look at actions that prevent greenhouse gas emissions or remove emitted greenhouse gasses. Authors in this domain have experience in disciplines that include law, political science, and engineering.
Although primarily intended for use by its 125 member governments, IPCC reports are widely regarded as the most comprehensive compendium and assessment of climate-related science available....
—Timothy A. Kohler and Marcy Rockman, The IPCC: A Primer for Archaeologists
A Big Win
This month has seen an important win for GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission reduction in Minnesota and, of course, the world. With the passing of the 100 Percent by 2040 bill promoted by the Sierra Club North Star Chapter's Clean Energy Team we are joining 21 other states in showing the way to a future consistent with the international aims of the IPCC, including ensuring benefits to marginalized communities, furthering ecological imperatives, and promoting equitable economic development.
Reducing GHG emissions across the full energy sector requires major transitions, including a substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use, the deployment of low-emission energy sources, switching to alternative energy carriers, and energy efficiency and conservation.
–IPCC Sixth Annual Report
IPCC sources