Mike Brklacich, “IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5): Is there anything new under the sun?”

Chancellor’s Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

Associate Dean (Graduate Programs & Research)

Carleton University

Abstract/Résumé:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)has released five assessments since 1989.  In each cycle, IPCC synthesizes research over the previous 5 to 7 year period and presents its findings in three volumes: Climate Science; Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; and Mitigation of Climate Change.  IPCC’s fifth assessment report (AR5) was released in 2013-14. Several media releases reported that while AR5 employed even stronger language linking recent climate changes to human activities, there was also a sense that “global warming was old news.”

This presentation reviews the IPCC process and highlights five significant new findings from AR5, including climate change is accelerating, North America is not immune to climate change impacts, a new chapter on human security and climate change, adaptation cannot overcome all climate change impacts, and preventing dangerous climate change will require leaving the majority of fossil fuels in the ground.

The presentation will conclude with a discussion of future directions, including possible implications for the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in December 2015.

Where/Où:

2nd floor boardroom, National Wildlife Research Centre,Ottawa
salle de réunion, 2ième étage, Centre national de la recherche faunique, Ottawa

by videoconference/ par vidéo:

Ø  Place Vincent Massey, room/salle #16046

Ø  Terrasses de la Chaudière, room/salle #2632

Ø  Fontaine, room/salle 1172