UNEP Forecast Economic Losses from Climate Change

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its latest report on climate change.

The “Working Group 2, Fifth Assessment Report” covers the likely impacts of climate change and our capacity to adapt to future climate risks. From the last major review of almost six years ago, it provides a strengthened body of evidence on observed impacts and future risks of climate change.
The report is the work of over 310 scientific experts drawn from universities and research institutes in 73 different countries around the world.
Although the IPCC didn’t focus on individual countries, the ‘impacts, vulnerability and adaptation’ report did identify three key risks from climate change for Europe:

1. Increased economic losses and more people affected by flooding in river basins and coasts, as urbanisation continues, sea levels rise and peak river flows increase;
2. Increased water restrictions. Significant reduction in water availability from river abstraction and from groundwater resources combined with increased water demand (eg for irrigation, energy and industry and domestic use);
3. Increased economic losses and people affected by extreme heat events: impacts on health and well-being, labour productivity, crop production and air quality

The UK will also be impacted by global issues such as rising food prices. High levels of adaptation can significantly reduce but not remove these risks.

• These findings align well with the UK’s own Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) published in 2012.

In response to the report, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey said:
“The science has spoken. Left unchecked, climate change will have far reaching consequences for our society.
“The UK is leading from the front and working with our European partners. We’ve adopted some of the most ambitious climate change targets and are investing in low carbon and energy efficiency technologies.
“This evidence builds the case for early action in the UK and around the world to lessen the risks posed by climate change. We cannot afford to wait.”

• Edward Davey’s full statement is available on GOV.UK
• The full report is published on the IPCC website
• DECC’s Question and Answer publication offers some analysis of the findings and is available on GOV.UK
• Sir Mark Walport’s, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head of the Government Office for Science, blog on the WorkingGroup 2 report.
• The replay of the IPCC press conference is available on the ustream website
• More information on UK action on tackling climate change

The UN’s Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the first volume of its 5th Assessment Report on The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change in Stockholm on 27 September 2013. The report was finalised after a four day meeting attended by delegates from 110 countries and involving a number of the Report’s leading scientific authors. The UK was represented by officials from DECC and 11 leading authors from the UK.

• DECC’s question and answer note on the report findings is available on GOV.UK

The IPCC will be publishing the third part of the report on Sunday 13th April, Working Group 3, which will cover options for mitigating climate change.
Government Policy links:
Reducing the impact of climate change in developing countries
Using evidence and analysis to inform energy and climate change policies
Supporting international action on climate change
Adapting to climate change
Reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050

Source: Defra