Warming of the climate system is unequivocal says new IPCC report

31st March 2014

Saturday 30 March 2014 saw the launch of the major new Assessment Report by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

The report was agreed after almost a week of intense discussions  in Yokohama, which included concerns among some authors about the tone of the evolving document. This is the second of a series from the UN's climate panel due out this year that outlines the causes, effects and solutions to global warming.

Iain Patton, EAUC CEO quotes Mahatma Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.”

Iain goes on to say, "Although some academics continue to ridicule and fight, warming of the climate system is unequivocal. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.

We in universities and colleges have to re-frame climate change and attract in as an exciting challenge the most creative minds to reduce the risks and build flexible and resilient societies."

There has been much reaction across the world to this new report. The report, summary, headline statements and additional material can be found on the IPPC website.