MONACO, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will hold a meeting in Monaco on 6-9 December 2016 to draft the outline of the Special Report on Climate Change and the Oceans and the Cryosphere. The meeting will bring together around one hundred experts from over 40 countries.
The IPCC will hold a Media Briefing from 08:30 to 09:00 on Tuesday 6 December at the Novotel Monte Carlo. This briefing immediately precedes the Opening Ceremony Session of the Scoping Meeting at which HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC, will present a welcome address. This Plenary Session will run from 09:00 to 10:00 and is also open to the media as observers.
Representatives from the IPCC taking part in the Media Briefing are: IPCC Vice-Chair Ko Barrett, who is the Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Scoping Meeting, and IPCC Co-Chairs Valérie Masson-Delmotte (Working Group I) Hans-Otto Pörtner (Working Group II), Debra Roberts (Working Group II) and Zhai Panmao (Working Group I).
During the Media Briefing, they will provide information about the IPCC, the Special Report and the purpose and expected outcomes of the scoping meeting.
“Oceans cover 70% of the planet’s surface and play a key role in the climate system, as well as providing a source of food and livelihood for millions of people,” said IPCC Chair Lee. “This highly policy-relevant report will enhance our understanding of oceans and the cryosphere, including sea-level rise.”
The cryosphere – from the Greek kryos, meaning cold or ice – is a word to collectively designate the areas of the Earth where water is found in its solid state. This includes ice sheets, frozen lakes and rivers, regions covered by snow, glaciers, and frozen soil.
The Government of Monaco welcomed the decision taken by the IPCC at its 41st Session in April 2016 to produce the Special Report, which is scheduled for completion in 2019.
“For many years Monaco has made support for research a key focus of its policy. Significant persuasion efforts were implemented in support of the establishment of an IPCC report devoted to the oceans and the cryosphere,” said HSH Prince Albert II.
The Scoping Meeting is supported by the Government of Monaco and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
For more information, and interview requests, contact:
IPCC: Jonathan Lynn, media-ipcc(at)wmo.int +41 79 666 7134
Prince Albert II Foundation: Sandra Bensoussan, sbensoussan(at)fpa2.mc +377 98 98 19 88
Government of Monaco: Arielle Barrabino, abarrabino(at)gouv.mc +377 98 98 43 49
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Government of Monaco & IPCC, 1 December 2016. Press release.
