Wednesday 21 May 2014

Gale & Snowden are invited to join the IPCC Expert Panel to review AR5 Synthesis Report - #climate2014 #IPCC


The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  is a scientific intergovernmental body under the auspices of the United Nations, set up at the request of member governments.


The IPCC produces reports that support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the main international treaty on climate change.  The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is to "stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic [i.e., human-induced] interference with the climate system".  IPCC reports cover "the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.”

Thousands of scientists and other experts contribute (on a voluntary basis, without payment from the IPCC) to writing and reviewing reports, which are then reviewed by governments.  IPCC reports contain a "Summary for Policymakers", which is subject to line-by-line approval by delegates from all participating governments.  Typically this involves the governments of more than 120 countries.

The IPCC provides an internationally accepted authority on climate change, producing reports which have the agreement of leading climate scientists and the consensus of participating governments.

Following the IPCC  conference entitled 'Transformational Climate Change' at Exeter University UK  last week where Gale & Snowden Architects were the only design-lead professional organisation represented, David and Jason have both been invited to participate in the Expert Review of the First Order Draft (FOD) of the Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Fifth Assessment report (AR5).

The Synthesis Report integrates key messages contained within the AR5 Assessment Reports.  It is composed of a Summary for Policymakers (SPM) and a longer report.















A selection of slides from the IPCC AR5 Working Group I Report





Gale & Snowden Architects and Engineers have been dedicated to Climate Action, at the forefront of low environmental impact and healthy design, since 1992

Gale & Snowden have been working with the TSB to investigate the impacts of climate change on buildings and how to make the built environment resilient and adaptable, through passive strategies, to future climate scenarios.  For more information on this and Gale & Snowden's other work, please visit our website.

Friday 16 May 2014

Gale & Snowden at Transformational Climate Science conference #climate2014 IPCC

Gale & Snowden are attending a conference at the University of Exeter, with world-leading IPCC Fifth Assessment Report authors.

The world’s top climate change experts are meeting in Exeter this May to present and critically reflect on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).
The Transformational Climate Science conference will see world-leading researchers using the IPCC report’s findings to explore the next steps for climate science research.
The report assesses scientific, technical, and socio-economic factors concerning climate change, its potential effects and the options for adaptation and mitigation.
Conference participants include leading UK and international contributors to the IPCC report, who will give policy and scientific perspectives on the cutting edge of science, social science, and science-policy interface.
The conference takes place on 15 and 16 May 2014 in the University of Exeter's Forum Building.
A live stream is available here.