Av: Jill Johannessen
The IPCCs Fourth Assessment Report states that global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values. The primary source of the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial period results from fossil fuel use.
Norwegian researchers who took part in the IPCC climate report held a press conference in Oslo on the panel's conclusions, and said Norway must take a prominent role in emission reductions.
- Unless we are able to cut man-made CO2 emissions with at least fifty percent, the increasing warming of the planet might set in motion processes that cannot be stopped, said climate researcher Eystein Jansen at the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research and emphasised that it is time to act now.
According to the researchers the effects of reduced emissions will first be observable in 2030. Even if we stop all emissions today the temperature will continue to rise for several decades, but significantly less than if we don't do something about emissions.
The Norwegian researchers believe that Norway has a great moral responsibility due to its oil-production:
- The burning of oil and gas is a major reason for man-made CO2 emissions. Due to export of oil and gas we are a rich country and as such contribute to climate change. We therefore have a moral responsibility to go in front by reducing our own emissions as well as by trying to achieve global agreements," Jansen said.
At the end of the Norwegian launching of the climate report; the Minister of Environment Helen Bjørnøy received a copy of the “Summary for Policymakers”. She called the report "the most important climate document I have seen". Minister Bjørnøy was particularly disturbed by the reports description of the self-strengthening effect of climate change.
For Noway we can expect a milder and wetter climate, more storms and floods, and higher sea levels, which can cause serious challenges along the coast during this century (Source: RegClim and Bjerknes Centre).
Facts/IPCC |
 The Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988. The major activity of the IPCC is to prepare comprehensive and up-to-date assessments of policy-relevant scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant for understanding the scientific basis of climate change, potential impacts, and options for mitigation and adaptation. The Forth Assessment Report contains three Working Groups, which assesses:1. The scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change 2. The vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change 3. Options for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and otherwise mitigating climate change The Fourth Assessment Report is to be finalized in 2007. The first volume carried out by Working Group I was launched February 2007. It describes progress in the understanding of the human and natural drivers of climate change, observed climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change. Assessments are based upon peer-reviewed literature and are characterized by an extensive and open review process involving both scientific/technical experts and governments before being accepted by the IPCC. Earlier assessment by the IPCC provided the main scientific impetus for the Kyoto Protocol, which is aimed at reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from wealthy developed countries by 5 percent from 2008 through 2012. The Fourth Assessment Report will be decisive for the negotiations starting in the fall on new measures to curb greenhouse gases to kick in when the Kyoto pact expires at the end of 2012. Previous reports 1990, 1995, 2001. |