Volume 1

The Natural Environment Research Council and research into climate change : third report / Science and Technology Committee.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology
Date:
1997
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: The Natural Environment Research Council and research into climate change : third report / Science and Technology Committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ] — review...the number of scientists that have been involved in expressing their ideas about the process really has soaked up all of the intelligent comment that could be made.”” “The IPCC has two great strengths which have contributed to its success. Firstly, we have involved a very wide range of scientists — over 90 per cent of the scientists who are actively working in the field in the world have been involved — so our reports are owned by the scientific community and that is absolutely essential if we are going to have scientific credibility. Secondly, because we are an intergovernmental body and because the Policymakers’ Summaries are agreed at intergovernmental meetings, and the presentation of the science is something which governments have participated in, it is owned by governments, and because it is owned by governments, governments take it seriously and say, ‘This is our report, so we have to work at it.’”'® 12: The IPCC’s work continues, but its first great influence was felt in the Framework 13. alrea “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.” The uncertainties in the science of climate change mean that although some actions can dy be recommended as useful, such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions wherever — what level of greenhouse gas concentrations might meet the Convention’s aims; — what changes in food production might be necessary to ensure food security; and — how economic development might proceed in a sustainable manner. The chang - Age re are a number of other international agreements and projects on which research into global environmental e has a bearing; among them are: nda 21, the programme for sustainable development discussed at Rio;