Stabilising Greenhouse GasesThere is increasing consensus internationally on the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and the Stern Review provide strong evidence that the costs of inaction outweigh the costs of action. But the UK government needs better information about the breadth of effects and the available mitigation and adaptation options for them to be able to influence international negotiations. Defra appointed Risk Solutions to scope a proposed research programme that would provide policy makers with the scientific evidence they need to help them agree a stabilisation goal for greenhouse gases. To identify areas where further research is required we reviewed the main literature and interviewed policy makers and top researchers (from around the world). We facilitated an expert consensus on the current level of understanding in the relevant areas: the science of climate change, its causes, its impacts in physical, social and economic terms, and how the impacts change in different scenarios. The project also considered how stabilisation goals could be achieved, technical options (such as Carbon Capture and Storage), and how to influence people’s behaviour. We described areas where research work could address key policy relevant uncertainties and proposed governance arrangements for this potentially large research programme and outlined costs. We were supported by climate change research experts from the Met Office Hadley Centre, the Tyndall Centre, 4CMR Cambridge, the University of Leeds and Cardiff University. |
