James Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea has the United States of America defeating Vice President Thelma Krug in the run-off Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Elected as the new Chair of Skia won 90 votes while Krug won 69 votes. Krug, an IPCC vice-chair and former researcher at Brazil’s National Space Institute, narrowly missed out on becoming the IPCC’s first female chair.
The election took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program in Nairobi, where the IPCC was holding its 59th session. Elections were also held for other positions in the IPCC Bureau, including co-chairs of IPCC working groups, the culmination of which will take place from 26 to 28 July. Skia is a Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London. He has about 40 years of climate science experience and expertise. Skia will lead the IPCC through its seventh evaluation cycle.
The election of the new IPCC Bureau, which will include the Chair, opens the way for work to begin on the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report, which is expected to be completed over the coming five to seven years, following the challenge of 34 members, including the Chair. . The panel will also begin the process of selecting 12 members of the National Greenhouse Gas Research Working Group.
About IPCC:
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) It is a United Nations body established in 1988. It is a scientific organization responsible for evaluating and providing reliable information on climate change, its impacts and possible adaptation and solution strategies.
- The IPCC operates in collaboration with thousands of scientists from around the world who volunteer to dedicate their expertise and research. These scientists review and evaluate the latest scientific literature to prepare comprehensive assessment reports.
- The IPCC’s assessment reports serve as an important basis for policy makers and governments making political decisions. These reports help in making informed decisions on various policies and actions related to climate change. These reports highlight meteorological conditions, potential risks, and common pathways to challenges posed by climate change.
The work of the IPCC has been instrumental in raising global awareness of climate change and the critical need for concerted action against it. The organization’s efforts have played a key role in shaping international climate change agreements and frameworks, such as the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, such as the International Climate Agreement.
Through its scientific assessment, the IPCC remains an important contributor to global efforts to address climate change and its effects on the environment, society, and economy.
Important points for all competitive exams:
- Establishment of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): 1988;
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Founder: Bert Bolin;
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.