The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - Term Paper Example

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Introduction The Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC) is a systematic organization which evaluates the changes in the climate that is taking place all round the world. The IPCC is an organization that works under the patronage of the United Nations (UN). It is a leading international body that review and research the latest technological information and socio economic information made by different sources from all over the world. This assessment of latest scientific knowledge is done to help in understanding the changes in the climate. IPCC only review the research information and does not conduct any research on its own. The assembling and monitoring of data related to changes in the climate is also executed by other scientific bodies (IPCC, 2014). This organization was established in 1998 with the association of United Nations Environment Program (WMO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The purpose of IPCC is to provide scientific knowledge about the new scientific inventions in relation to the present situation of climatic change and its effects on the environment and economic situations. The work of WMO and UNCEP were jointly endorsed in 1998 by the UN General Assembly to form IPCC. The Secretariat organizes all the work of IPCC and coordinates with the government. The work is supported by WMO and UNEP and the seminars and plenary sessions are conducted at the headquarters of WMO in Geneva (IPCC.CH, 2014). As IPCC is an intergovernmental organization, its membership is present to all the member countries of the United Nations. Currently, IPCC has 195 countries as its members. In the seminars and the plenary sessions, governments take part in proceedings of the reviewing of different works for the benefits of environment. Decisions pertaining to the IPCC work program are made and reports are reviewed and acknowledged. These plenary sessions are of great importance as the Chair and IPCC Bureau Members are selected during the plenary meetings. The position of IPCC, in the making of environment-friendly decisions is of vital significance as IPCC is a scientific and intergovernmental body which provides a balance and thorough assessment of new scientific information. As the work of IPCC is endorsed, its credibility is accepted by different governments and its authority is acknowledged on the information provided through the methodical scientific research. Structure of IPCC For the proper functionality of the procedures of IPCC, workgroups and task forces are present in the structure IPCC. Accompanying the teams and groups, numerous experts from all over the world take part in the work of IPCC. These scientists contribute their findings and work on voluntarily basis. Other scientists contribute by reviewing work. All the work done is guidelines provided of principles and procedures. Currently, the structure of IPCC comprise of three work sections along with a working force. They are supported by the technical support unit which is monetarily assisted by the administration of the industrialized country of that working collection team (Change, 1991). The functions of the work groups are divided in the following way: Work Group I research the "The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change" This collection evaluates the variations in the greenhouse gases and the sprays in the atmosphere. Alterations are observed on land, in air, temperature changes in ocean due to the rain, glaciers and ice sheets. Assessment with the help of bio geo chemistry and satellite data is done. Work Group II research the "Climate Change Influences, Adaptation and Susceptibility" This collection assesses the susceptibility of the socio-economic structures due to the changes that occur as the temperature as it is rising and falling in different of the world. This group also helps in guiding how to adapt to the changes in temperature and preserve the sustainable development. The evaluated evidence is further categorized by segments in which food and forests; coastal systems; water resources; ecosystems, business; human well-being are considered. Work Group III deals with "Mitigation of Climate Change” This group assess the mitigation of the climate change due to decreasing the emission of greenhouse gas. It also helps in providing opportunities that assist in decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The key economic sectors are considered for short term analysis and long term analysis. The foremost economic subdivisions include: energy, transportation, forestry, buildings, manufacturing, cultivation, waste management. These working Groups arrange meetings and sessions after the consent of government representatives for assessing and comparing the work done in a certain period of time. The Task force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories has the sole objective of developing and refining such a method which helps in calculating the quantity of national greenhouse gas that is emitted in the atmosphere. In IPCC, task groups and steering groups are also founded other than the work groups and task force. These groups are made according to a longer or shorter time frame which is predefined according to the assignment. One example of such a task group is Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (IPC, 2007). Significant Contribution of IPCC in Climatic Change IPCC Assessment Reports The most important work that IPCC has to offer is the publishing of assessment reports on the present condition of the technological, socio economic and scientific knowledge of climate change. Assessment report was includes the impact of such changes in the climate and different techniques of adaptability for sustenance. This organization also publishes exceptional reports which are based on a particular topic that may be effecting adversely the environment by the emission of greenhouse gases. These procedural reports act as evidence of practical solutions in the research of green house inventories (Penner, 1999). The list of IPCC Assessment reports with year of publication is mentioned below: IPCC Second Assessment Report: Climate Change 1995 (SAR) IPCC First Assessment Report 1990 (FAR) IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 (AR4) IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2013 (AR5) IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001 (TAR) These publications are the scientific knowledge and the technical support that is needed with respect to the climatic change that is occurring all around the world. These reports are divided in to three capacities, one for each of the occupied group of the IPCC. With IPCC assessment report, synthesis report is also published. In each volume of the different working group, a separate chapter to present the detail of each economic sector and the impact is present with technical summery and summery for policy makers. The synthesis report has all the work and review of the assessment report but in a simple and understandable language. These synthesis reports are published for policy makers and individuals who lack the technical and scientific knowledge of scientists. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2013 (AR5) On September 2013 the fifth working report of the assessment was released in four parts which spanned till November 2014. It is one of the most complete technical reports, that is published by the IPCC since the assessment report of 2007. This report comprises of work done by the Work Group I, II, III and the synthesis report and summaries for policy makers. The fifth assessment report puts greater emphasis on the climatic change according to different scenarios in the world. It consists of dedicated chapters on the rise of sea level, carbon cycle and the impact of Monsoon and Al Nino. A comprehensive detail of adaptation and mitigation due to increase in greenhouse gases is also included (Farmer, 2014). IPCC Meetings IPCC organizes different meetings with different objectives and various participants. These meetings include author meetings, expert meetings and workshops. These meetings are plenary sessions of IPCC and its working group. Meetings of the Task Force Bureau and IPCC Bureau and any task set set up by the Panel, in addition to studios which take place. Meetings between the IPCC co- sponsors also take place so enhance the collaboration between the scientists and the users (Susskind & Ali, 2014). IPCC Scholarship Programs IPCC provides scholarship programs to students who are from developing countries. The objective of providing these scholarships is to build an understanding of climatic alteration in emerging countries by offering scholarships to young scientists for assuming doctoral studies. Priority is given to applicants who are from slightest developed countries and Small Island developed. For the period 2013-2014, fifteen students have acknowledged a grant award for postgraduate studies or exploration. Students who were awarded a "Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation funding for IPCC" were seven, whom were within the structure of the partnership amongst the IPCC Scholarship Program and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Young Researchers Scholarships Initiative (Libecap & Steckel, 2011). Importance of IPCC Work IPCC has played a significant role in the awareness of environmental and health problems due to climatic change. The first assessment report that was published in 1990 gave evidence and underlined the importance of the accepting the challenge of climatic change that not only require individual effort but requires international collaboration to deal with a problem of such a high magnitude. The second assessment report in 1995 offered significant material drawn on by representatives in the run-up to acceptance of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The third and fourth reports provided information which needed dire attention to reduce the use of the substance of greenhouse gases. The work of IPCC against the climate change which has destroyed our world and our environment is remarkable as prevention measures are done with the help of science. This effort by IPCC has gained them a Noble Prize in 2007. Conclusion The success of IPCC depends on the enthusiastic scientists that work for a better future of the world. These scientists belong to different regions and bring their concern and their expertise for helping IPCC in the fight against the adverse effects of global warming theory. I personally think that climatic change is a big concern of our times. The change in the weather which brings long term effects like change of weather, UVA rays of sun, more intense heat waves, drying of rivers, and destruction of the natural habitat of animals are only some of the adverse effects of climatic change. Many scientists believe that the climatic change has already destroyed the earth’s natural system of sustaining its natural habitat. Scientists have great apprehensions that global temperatures will endure to rise for years to come. The reason lies in the use greenhouse gasses produced by human activities. IPCC is doing a magnificent job in providing solutions to the problem of climatic change. The reports of IPCC have to go through a very strict and rigorous review process that involves expert from all around the world. The credibility of the reports can also be known by the fact that they are available to all the members of the government and later when they are published, they can be accessed by the public. These reports provide an insight to the problem and what our next generation can be facing. Providing scholar ships to young scientists is also a step meant to prepare the next generation for the dire effects of the climatic change. References Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate. Climate Change: The Ipcc Response Strategies. Island Press, 1991. Farmer, G. Thomas. Modern Climate Change Science. Springer, 2014. IPC. Climate Change 2007 - Mitigation of Climate Change: Working Group III contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Cambridge University Press, 2007. IPCC. "Histoy." The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2014). IPCC.CH. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. 2014. . Libecap, Gary D. and Richard H. Steckel. The Economics of Climate Change: Adaptations Past and Present. University of Chicago Press, 2011. Penner, Joyce E. Aviation and the Global Atmosphere: A Special Report of IPCC Working Groups I and III in Collaboration with the Scientific Assessment Panel to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Cambridge University Press, 1999. Susskind, Lawrence E. and Saleem H. Ali. Environmental Diplomacy: Negotiating More Effective Global Agreements. Oxford University Press, 2014. Read More