Cambridge joins IPCC authors

Three Cambridge researchers have joined more than six hundred experts from around the world in Paris in the first week of December to commence work on the first draft of a key report from the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.

Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, Dr Edoardo Borgomeo and Dr Kennedy Mbeva are key members of the Working Groups gathered to start the first draft of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7).

This is the first time in IPCC history that the three Working Groups are holding a joint Lead Author Meeting.

Professor Diaz Anadon is a Lead Author in Working Group III on Climate Change Mitigation and will be working on Chapter 5, which deals with Enablers and Barriers.

The chaired Professor of Climate Change Policy in the Department of Land Economy, Professor Diaz Anadon is also Director of the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG).

Chapter 5 in the 7^th Assessment Report covers a wide range of topics, such as: technological, institutional, economic, and human capacity; technology, including access, cost, infrastructure, and innovation; finance; investment; policies and governance; distribution of cost, benefits and impacts of mitigation; public perception; labour, trade and supply chains; and political economy of mitigation, including interest groups, trade and international relations. 

Professor Diaz Anadon will be contributing to many aspects in Chapter 5, which includes:

(a) the role of technology innovation and infrastructure as enablers of climate mitigation across different technologies, sectors, and development contexts;

(b) the relationship between finance, policies, governance, and social dimensions on climate action; and

(c) the political economy of mitigation, trade and supply chains

"My hope is that this IPCC Working Group III report will be even more policy relevant, inclusive and systemic and that it will be even more helpful in providing evidence for effective mitigation in different contexts," she said.

Dr Edoardo Borgomeo, who is Associate Professor of Water Engineering in Department of Engineering, will be working on Chapter 16 on water.

He will be writing about the impacts of climate change on the planet’s water resources, one of the main channels through which societies feel the impacts of climate change. One example of that is the increasing frequency and severity of floods and droughts.

As a Coordinating Lead Author, Dr Borgomeo will organize inputs from a group of about 10 other researchers from around the world. Their task is to review and take stock of the impacts of climate change on the planet's water resources.

He suggested that most readers of the report might be sceptical about its ability to convince policymakers to act and the public to prioritize climate in their voting choices.

"A report alone won’t change the mind of certain politicians or voters; however, it  can play a role in increasing awareness and giving policymakers some additional information as to what they should be aiming for in terms of risk reduction or emission abatement, amongst other things," Dr Borgomeo said. 

Dr Kennedy Mbeva is a Research Associate in the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER), whose speciality is global climate governance.

Dr Mbeva will be working in Working Group III on Chapter 4: Sustainable Development and Mitigation (WG III).

His particular focus and area of expertise is the global politics of just transitions.

As a Lead Author Dr Mbeva is tasked with preparing assigned sections of the work programme, drawing on the most reliable and up-to-date scientific, technical, and socio-economic knowledge available.

He said meeting global climate goals while advancing the broader sustainability agenda is becoming increasingly challenging in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.  

"I hope the AR7 report will provide insights into how to close the gap between climate targets and action in ways that also advance broader sustainable development goals," he said.

This initial meeting of Lead Authors is on from 1-5 December.