
Seminar on climate change
"Climate change - what is known and how should we act?" That is the title of an international symposium held at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters April 16 and April 17. The main speaker is Dr. Susan Solomon, Senior Scientist. NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado. HRH Crown Prince Haakon attended the opening. The Norwegian Science Council was sponser for the symposium through the science program NORKLIMA.
Recently published reports show that human-induced climate change is a major challenge, perhaps the most serious problem humankind is facing today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just published results from the 4th Assessment Report from Working Group 1 (Climate Change 2007: The Physical Scientific Basis). One major conclusion is that most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. The additional increase in global temperature in this century is projected to be between 1.1 and 6.4°C; the broad range is due partly to model uncertainties and partly to the use of many scenarios for future emissions of greenhouse gases. Reports from the two other IPCC working groups will follow later this spring. Last autumn the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change was published. It concluded that the benefits of strong and early action to mitigate climate change far outweigh the economic costs of not acting.
The seminar brings together specialists and politicians to discuss central aspects of climate change, including uncertainties, and possible ways to minimize harmful effects. Presentations will be given by international and Norwegian experts, including the chair of WG1. A panel discussion is also included in the program.
The Norwegian Science Council was sponser for the symposium through the science program NORKLIMA.