Leading climate scientists are gathering in Exeter to examine the impact, significance and implications of global warming.

Exeter hosts IPCC meeting on the 1.5°C Global Warming target

Some of the world’s leading climate scientists are gathering in Exeter for a special high-profile event to examine the impact, significance and implications of global warming, in relation to the historic Paris Agreement 2015.

The international conference, hosted by the University of Exeter and the Met Office, will feature more than 100 scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will discuss the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emissions.

The event comes in the wake of President Trump's announcement that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

The special conference, which takes place from 5 - 9 June, is a key milestone in the production of a crucial Special Report, commissioned at the historic Paris Agreement in 2015, on the feasibility this 1.5°C target, and outlining the practical steps required to do so.

The second of four Lead Author Meetings for IPCC scientists, the conference will feature Lead Authors from more than 40 countries who are convening to write this internationally important report, due to be completed in early 2018.

Professor Peter Cox, a world-leading climate change expert from the University of Exeter said: “In the wake of the USA’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement, it is more crucial than ever that we come together to create a more sustainable world.

“We are delighted to be able to host this crucial conference in Exeter, which is home to some of the world’s most renowned climate change experts, both at the University and the Met Office.

We are very proud of our international reputation for climate expertise; the breadth of this was evidenced by the fact that Exeter as a city had lead author representation on all three working groups of the IPCC 5th Assessment Report.

“The University of Exeter has invested heavily and broadly in climate and Earth System Science, including more than 30 new academic posts in the last 10 years.

“To be able to welcome some of the most senior scientists from across the world, who are working on this critical global challenge, is wonderful and I’m sure it will be a fascinating, impactful and successful event.”

To celebrate the IPCC meeting taking place in Exeter, the University of Exeter is hosting a distinctive public panel event on Wednesday 7 June.

Chaired by Oliver Morton, Science Editor at the Economist, the expert panel event will include Professor Myles Allen from the University of Oxford, Professor Petra Tschakert from the University of Western Australia and Professor Catherine Mitchell from the University of Exeter.

As well as discussing the implications and impacts of the 1.5°C target, the expert panel will also take questions from the audience. The event will also be live streamed - for more information visit the event page: Climate Change - does the 1.5 degree target make sense?

Date: 2 June 2017