Scientists Present International IPCC Report on Climate Change

There is no doubt in international climate research that climate change is progressing and accelerating. Considerable progress has been made in monitoring and modelling climate change. It is very likely that anthropogenic greenhouse gases are responsible for the largest part of observed climate change. These are the essential results of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was presented in Paris on Friday. At the same time, the report demonstrates that resolute action is required to prevent global warming of more than two degrees Celsius as compared to preindustrial levels. In its reports, the IPCC on behalf of the United Nations presents the latest scientific basis of climate change according to the consensus of the international research community. The latest report is the first part of the fourth IPCC report. Hundred of scientists contributed to the report, 58 of them from Germany.

On the occasion of the presentation of the report in Berlin, Federal Research Minister Schavan said on Friday: “Dealing with climate change requires intelligent technological change on a sound scientific basis. In order to keep climate change at an acceptable level, we have to engage in intensive research and ensure the rapid spread of climate-friendly technologies. To this end, the Federal Research Ministry will allocate 255 million euro over the next three years. Among other things this sum will be used to support the expansion of the German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) - 35 million euro will be provided for this project alone." The Federal Research Minister will shortly launch an action programme on climate change, which focuses on the needs of man and society. “This action programme will break new ground by developing technological solutions for the growing economies of our planet. We are thereby also opening up new markets for our own economy. The Federal Government is rising to the global responsibility of offering emerging economies room and opportunities to achieve comparable material wealth”, Ms Schavan said.

Michael Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, commented: "The report shows: climate change is an indisputable reality, it is already making itself felt in more and more extreme events such as heat waves and heavy rainfalls and the accelerated melting of glaciers and icecaps. The report underlines the necessity of an ambitious climate policy. The Federal Government wants to use the current EU and G8 Presidencies to further develop the EU’s leading role. This year we can and we have to make important decisions for a multilateral post-2012 climate protection regime, in order to prevent global warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius as compared to preindustrial levels". The IPCC report shows that the temperature of the Earth has already increased by more than 0.7 degrees and will continue to increase by 0.2 degrees per decade if no countermeasures are taken.

"A key component of an EU negotiation package for the upcoming climate negotiations starting at the end of 2007 has to be that the industrialised countries, and thus also the EU, commit themselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, as compared to 1990 levels. The Federal Government sees this as an opportunity to strengthen our leading role in innovation and technological development", Müller said.The report is the first of three volumes of the 4th IPCC assessment report. The second volume will deal with the expected effects of climate change, the third volume will focus on options to prevent further greenhouse gas emissions. Publication of these volumes is planned for the beginning of April and the beginning of May 2007.