The new chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Jim Skea, does not believe in doomsday scenarios in connection with climate change. “Consistently sending out the message that we are all doomed cripples people and prevents them from taking the actions needed to deal with climate change,” said Skea (pronounced ski). a few days after his election in conversation with the German Press Agency.
With co-authors in the most recent reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he always attached importance to seeing the “silver lining on the horizon”. The technologies and instruments to curb climate change are available, they just have to be applied. “The future of man is in our hands. Let’s use it,” said Skea (69).
The seventh assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) begins with the election of the professor for sustainable energy at the London elite university Imperial College. The Council is a UN body based in Geneva. For him, experts compile the scientific knowledge on climate change every five to seven years. They show options for action and their respective consequences.
But governments make decisions. The IPCC reports are the most important basis for political decisions to mitigate climate change. The next reports are expected in the late 2020s.
“Everyone can do something”
“Get involved!” said Skea to the address of all earthlings. “Don’t sit on the sofa and watch the debates about climate change. Everyone can do something.” Skea referred to citizens’ initiatives, but also citizens’ dialogues of city authorities or elections at municipal level. “A lot of the most important decisions will be made there.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) must also do more to better prepare its specific findings as a basis for action for certain groups. Skea called town planners, or farmers, or companies. “This whole thing is about real people and their real lives, not scientific abstractions,” he said. “We have to come down a bit.” Skea also wants to focus on financing measures to combat climate change and adaptation. “There is enough money in the world, the challenge is to get the financial flows to the right places.”
