IPCC special reports

The IPCC aimed to assess the impacts of global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways.

Analysis of the pre-industrial climate led our researchers to conclude that correcting this baseline reduced the amount of warming in future by 0.2 degrees before the Paris Agreement targets are exceeded. In addition, this correction meant that there was a corresponding reduction of up to 40% in the remaining future budget for carbon dioxide emissions.

The resulting 2018 landmark IPCC Special Report 'Global Warming of 1.5°C', was arguably one of the most important and influential reports in the IPCC's history. The IPCC cited work from our researchers, including findings applied directly in calculating future emissions allowable without exceeding 1.5°C warming.  

The also IPCC exclusively selected several of our researchers as Expert Reviewers due to their world-leading expertise:

• Dr Vivian Scott was selected as expert reviewer
• Professor David Reay was selected as expert reviewer

Our research

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report.

You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below:

The report has guided climate change policies across the globe. For example, in 2019 the UK Parliament moved to strengthen its climate target by passing legislation requiring the government to reduce the UK's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050.  

You can read the report and more information by clicking the button below:

The IPCC Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' addressed greenhouse gas changes in land-based ecosystems, land use, and sustainable land management. These effect climate change adaptation and mitigation, desertification, land degradation and food security. 

This report was a landmark study by 107 experts from 52 countries and broke new ground for IPCC. It was the first IPCC report with more authors from developing countries than authors from developed countries. The report was marked by an inspiring degree of collaboration, reflecting the wide scope of the task given to authors by the Panel. 

It brought together authors not only from the IPCC's traditional scientific communities but also those from sister UN organisations, including:

• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES),
• Science-Policy Interface of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).

Our School's research and researchers provided crucial input to this report:

• Professor Mark Rounsevell was selected as a Lead Author
• Dr Peter Alexander was selected as a Contributing Author
• Professor Gabi Hegerl was selected as a Expert Reviewer
• Professor Dave Reay was selected as a Expert Reviewer

Our research

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report.

You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below:

You can read the report and more information by clicking the button below: 

This 2019 Special Report assesses new knowledge since the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) and the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15).  

It provides an assessment of how the ocean and icy regions have, and are, expected to change with ongoing global warming. It also covers the risks and opportunities these changes bring to ecosystems and people, and adaptation and governance options for reducing future risks.

Our research on marine ecosystems, were used for the assessment of climate impacts on open ocean and deep seafloor ecosystems. They also helped inform the levels of risk under future conditions of global warming.  

We have made key contributions on sea-level rise for the Report. The Amundsen Sea Sector of West Antarctica and Greenland, which are a focus of our data gathering and modelling efforts, were highlighted in the Summary for Policymakers as key sources of future sea-level rise.

Our researchers were also selected as authors and expert reviewers:

• Professor Murray Roberts was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 5: Changing ocean, marine ecosystems and dependent communities.'
• Dr Sebastian Hennige was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 5: Changing ocean, marine ecosystems and dependent communities.'
• Professor Peter Nienow was selected as a Expert Reviewer for 'Chapter 3: Polar regions.'

Our research

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report.

You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below: