Professor of earth sciences selected as lead author of report on climate change

Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UNESCO unveiled a list of lead authors of the Sixth Assessment Report. A total of 707 authors from across the world, among whom 37 are from China, will participate in the finalization of the report. Prof. CAO Long with the School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, is greatly honored to be one of the lead authors.

The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC is currently in its Sixth Assessment cycle. During this cycle, the Panel will produce three Special Reports, a Methodology Report on national greenhouse gas inventories and the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).

The 43rd Session of the IPCC held in April 2016 agreed that the AR6 Synthesis Report would be finalized in 2022 in time for the first UNFCCC global stocktake when countries will review progress towards their goal of keeping global warming to well below 2°C while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

It is the first time that ZJU experts have engaged in the production of the IPCC assessment report as a lead author. It will play a crucial role in promoting ZJU’s domestic and international reputation in the field of climate change.