We have also made significant contributions to Special Reports released by the IPCC, which are guiding policies around the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing climate change. Every five to seven years, the IPCC produces Assessment Reports. These are the most comprehensive scientific reports about climate change produced worldwide. Between the Assessment Reports, the IPCC also publishes Special Reports which focus on a specific issue. Every IPCC report goes through several drafts and reviews to ensure the assessment is scientifically rigorous, exhaustive, objective and transparent. We are among the world-leading researchers who have made crucial contributions to the IPCC's Special Reports, guiding policies around the globe. In addition, IPCC has exclusively selected several of our researchers as Lead Authors, Contributing Authors and Expert Reviewers for the reports. Each of the selected scientists, specialists and experts are specifically chosen from nominations by specialists, governments and organisations worldwide because of their world-leading expertise. The reports The IPCC has produced three Special Reports: Global Warming of 1.5°C (2018) Climate Change and Land (2019) Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (2019) You can access information on the reports under each drop-down menu below: IPCC Special Report 'Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees C' Image Following the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change requested advice from the IPCC to limit climate warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 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. Subsequent research by our School estimated the variation in the Earth's pre-industrial climate. We attributed observed variations in climate to radiative forcing, and estimated detectable greenhouse gas contributions to surface temperature from across the 19th century. This research is important because it is the baseline used by the IPCC to assess climate change stabilisation targets. 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 University researchers, including findings applied directly in calculating future emissions allowable without exceeding 1.5°C warming. In addition, IPCC exclusively selected several of our researchers as Expert Reviewers due to their world-leading expertise. Expert Reviewers: Dr Vivian Scott Professor David Reay 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: Professor Gabi Hegerl Dr Vivian Scott Professor Stuart Haszeldine Dr Peter Alexander Dr Simon Shackley Professor Simon Tett Dr Mark Wilkinson Professor Dan van der Horst Professor David Reay The report has guided climate change policies across the globe. For example, in 2019, via assessment by the UK Committee on Climate Change, 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. The report's findings underpin the subsequent strengthening of climate change targets worldwide, with many major economies (together around 70% of the world's economy) now following the UK in setting net-zero emissions targets in 2019. The report You can read the IPCC Special Report 'Global Warming of 1.5°C' and additional information on the IPCC website. IPCC website Special Report 'Global Warming of 1.5 degrees C' Following the advice of the independent Committee on Climate Change, I am committing to legislate for the UK to adopt a new legally binding net-zero emissions target by 2050. We will be the first major economy to do so. Ending our contribution to global warming by 2050 can be the defining decision of this generation in fulfilling our responsibility to the next. Theresa May, Prime Minister IPCC Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' Image The IPCC Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' addressed greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in land-based ecosystems, land use and sustainable land management in relation to 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 to be produced by all three Working Groups collaborating with the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI). In addition, it was also 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 and interdisciplinarity, reflecting the wide scope of the mandate 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 provided crucial input to the IPCC Special Report. In addition, IPCC exclusively selected several of our researchers as Lead Authors, Contributing Authors and Expert Reviewers due to their world-leading expertise. Authors and Expert Reviewers 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: Professor Mark Rounsevell Dr Peter Alexander Professor Gabi Hegerl Professor Dave Reay Professor Marc J Metzger Dr Simon Shackley Professor Stuart Haszeldine Professor Dan van der Horst The report You can read the IPCC Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' and additional information on the IPCC website. IPCC website - Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' IPCC Special Report 'Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate' Image 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 cryosphere have, and are, expected to change with ongoing global warming, the risks and opportunities these changes bring to ecosystems and people, and mitigation, adaptation and governance options for reducing future risks. Our School's research provided crucial input to the IPCC Special Report. In addition, IPCC exclusively selected several of our researchers as Contributing Authors and Expert Reviewers due to their world-leading expertise. 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: Professor Peter Nienow Dr Noel Gourmelen Dr Isla Myers-Smith Dr Donald Slater Professor Simon Tett Dr Daniel Goldberg Professor Rob Bingham Dr Meriwether Wilson Professor Murray Roberts Dr Lea-Anne Henry Professor Richard Essery Dr Sebastian Hennige Dr Andrew Schurer Professor Gabi Hegerl Changing ocean, marine ecosystems, and dependent communities Our research on marine ecosystems, particularly seamounts, coldwater corals and sponges were used for the assessment of climate impacts on open ocean and deep seafloor ecosystem structure and functioning. They also helped inform the levels of risk under future conditions of global warming. Polar regions 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. The IPCC is also informed by major national programmes such as the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) numerical-modelling programme dedicated to providing greatly improved predictions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet's fate and its contribution to global sea-level rise over the next 200 years. The BAS programme has been underpinned by geophysical measurements of the shape and condition of Antarctica's ice-sheet bed acquired and processed into subglacial topographic maps led by our School researchers. Numerical-modelling equations and strategies developed at our University have contributed to greatly-reduced uncertainties in BAS' programme for numerically modelling the ice-sheet's future. We are also conducting research with space and satellite data on observing and projecting contributions from polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers to rising sea levels. Our work with organisations such as the European Space Agency has shown that Greenland today is losing ice seven times faster than two decades ago. You can find out more about our work in polar regions within this website: Our work in numerical modelling Our work in satellite data The report You can read the IPCC Special Report 'Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate' and additional information on the IPCC website. IPCC website - Special Report 'Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate' Want to know more? We've provided some useful links for you. To see the information, simply click on each heading below: What is the IPCC, and how has our research helped? We've provided more information on our work and the role of the IPCC: Starkest warning yet – what our research and the latest IPCC (AR6) report reveals What are we doing about climate change? Our impact on IPCC What is the IPCC? And why should we trust it? Our work on the IPCC (AR5) report - the foundation for the Paris Agreement Discover our research groups and their activities related to the IPCC Special Reports Research groups Discover our research groups and their research activities related to the IPCC Special Reports. IPCC Special Report 'Global Warming of 1.5°C' Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene This research group investigates key processes and drivers in the atmosphere and climate system, and predicts present-day and future changes in climate, atmospheric composition and air quality. Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene Research Group Edinburgh Earth Resources This research group studies a wide variety of natural resources from our planet. Our researchers are dedicated to understanding how to utilise these resources responsibly for the benefit of all. Edinburgh Earth Resources Research Group IPCC Special Report 'Climate Change and Land' Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene This research group investigates key processes and drivers in the atmosphere and climate system, and predicts present-day and future changes in climate, atmospheric composition and air quality. Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene Research Group Biosphere This research group represents all life on Earth and the interface between the physical earth and the atmosphere. Biosphere Research Group Environmental Change and Societal Transitions This is an interdisciplinary research group that explores the relationship between people, the environment and technology. Environmental Change and Societal Transitions Research Group IPCC Special Report 'Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate' Cryosphere This research group investigates how the cryosphere will be affected by predicted climate change and inform possible consequences on our society with respect to sea-level rise and water resources. Cryosphere Research Group Oceans and Past Climate This research group consists of researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds who share an interest in developing an understanding of the oceans and their role in modulating and driving global environmental variability and change. Oceans and Past Climate Research Group Explore our research institutes Our research is carried out across our three interdisciplinary research institutes. There are also a number of research groups within each institute. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, academic staff may belong to one or more groups across the institutes. Earth and Planetary Sciences Institute Global Change Institute Geography and the Lived Environment Institute External centres and networks Our research enables people from different institutes within the School, other departments within the University as well as external partners and organisations to work together to address local and global challenges. External centres and networks Considering studying with us? Image Making a difference starts here, with our diverse undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree programmes. Study with us, and join one of the largest and most successful groupings of geographers and geoscientists in the UK as we address the most compelling issues of our time. You will also become part of one of the top universities in the world. We’re 16th in the most recent QS World University Rankings. Check out our degrees and help us change the world. Explore our degrees This article was published on 2024-07-01
