Climate Change 2007

Climate Change 2007
Name	Climate Change 2007
Subject	Climate science, policy
Publisher	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Date	2007

Climate Change 2007. The 2007 assessment was a major multivolume report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that synthesized research from institutions such as NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hadley Centre, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It followed earlier assessments linked to events like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process and informed deliberations at conferences including the Conference of the Parties and the G8 Summit, drawing on work by authors associated with University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Australian National University.

Background and Context

The report built on antecedents such as the First Assessment Report, Second Assessment Report, and Third Assessment Report and reflected advances related to studies from NOAA National Climatic Data Center, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Preparatory assessments engaged contributors from World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, Royal Society, and national academies including the National Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Timing aligned with policy moments like the Kyoto Protocol review, the Bali Conference agenda, and debates in legislatures such as the United States Congress, European Parliament, and Lok Sabha.

Scientific Findings and Reports

Lead authors synthesized observations from programs such as Climate Research Unit datasets, Global Historical Climatology Network, AR4 Working Group I, AR4 Working Group II, and AR4 Working Group III, integrating outputs from model intercomparisons like the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Findings cited attribution studies including work by James Hansen, Susan Solomon, Kevin Trenberth, Gavin Schmidt and teams at Met Office and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, indicating anthropogenic influences consistent with emissions inventories from International Energy Agency and Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. Projections referenced scenarios developed by Special Report on Emissions Scenarios, with temperature pathways compared to paleoclimate reconstructions by Paleoclimatology groups at Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Vostok station ice core studies, and discussed feedbacks examined in research from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and University of East Anglia.

Impacts on Environment and Society

The assessment documented impacts on systems studied at Great Barrier Reef, Amazon Rainforest, Greenland ice sheet, West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Himalayas, and coastal regions such as Bangladesh, Netherlands, and Pacific Islands Forum states. Reports referenced ecological research by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, Smithsonian Institution, Conservation International, and World Wildlife Fund documenting species range shifts reported for taxa studied at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, British Antarctic Survey, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Human dimensions drew on case studies from World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and national assessments in Australia, India, China, and United Kingdom addressing water stress, crop yields, public health concerns reported by World Health Organization, and displacement discussed in contexts like Small Island Developing States.

Policy Responses and International Negotiations

The 2007 assessment influenced negotiating positions at forums including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol parties, G8 Summit, and regional bodies such as the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It informed policy instruments considered by legislatures like the United States Congress, European Parliament, and Australian Parliament, and initiatives by institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Green Climate Fund precursor discussions, and market mechanisms referenced in debates over emissions trading seen in the European Union Emissions Trading System and proposals in California Air Resources Board rules. National strategies cited included those from Germany, Japan, Brazil, and South Africa and multilateral frameworks debated at Montreal and Bali Conference sessions.

Economic and Technological Responses

Economic analyses drew on models from Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, Nordhaus DICE model, and studies by OECD, International Energy Agency, and World Bank on mitigation costs, carbon pricing, and adaptation finance. Technological responses referenced deployment of renewable technologies from Siemens, Vestas Wind Systems, First Solar, and research at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, innovation policy discussions in European Commission documents, and carbon capture work associated with Sargas, Sleipner (natural gas field), and demonstrations linked to Petra Nova and Boundary Dam. Energy transitions considered scenarios involving hydropower projects in Itaipu, Three Gorges Dam, nuclear options debated in contexts like France and United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and efficiency measures promoted by International Energy Agency.

Controversies and Criticism

The assessment generated debate involving institutions and individuals such as critics at The Heartland Institute, commentators in The Wall Street Journal, scientists like Richard Lindzen and Frederick Seitz, and inquiries referenced by bodies such as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Controversies included discussion of data handling highlighted in disputes involving University of East Anglia and subsequent reviews by panels like those convened by the National Academy of Sciences and Royal Society. Policy critiques engaged stakeholders including business groups represented at World Economic Forum meetings and NGOs such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace advocating differing responses to mitigation and adaptation priorities.

Category:Climate reports