In 2005, an international conference titled Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change: A Scientific Symposium on Stabilisation of Greenhouse Gases examined the link between atmospheric

greenhouse gas Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. T ...

concentration and

global warming Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes ...

and its effects. The conference name was derived from Article 2 of the charter for the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the UN process for negotiating an agreement to limit dangerous climate change. It is an international treaty among countries to combat "dangerous human interference with th ...

The conference explored the possible impacts at different levels of

greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, oil, and natural gas, is the main cause of climate chan ...

and how the climate might be stabilized at a desired level. The conference took place under the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

's presidency of the G8, with the participation of around 200 "internationally renowned" scientists from 30 countries. It was chaired by Dennis Tirpak and hosted by the

Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research The Met Office Hadley Centre — named in honour of George Hadley — is one of the United Kingdom's leading centres for the study of scientific issues associated with climate change. It is part of, and based at the headquarters of the Met O ...

Exeter Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...

, from 1 February to 3 February. The conference was one of many meetings leading up to the 2015

Paris Agreement The Paris Agreement (also called the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords) is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was ...

, at which the international community agreed to limit global warming to no more than 2°C in order to have a 50-50 chance of avoiding dangerous climate change.

Objectives

The conference was called to bring together the latest research into what would be necessary to achieve the objective of the 1992

: :to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilization of

concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous

anthropogenic Anthropogenic ("human" + "generating") is an adjective that may refer to: * Anthropogeny, the study of the origins of humanity Anthropogenic may also refer to things that have been generated by humans, as follows: * Human impact on the enviro ...

interference with the climate system. It was also intended to encourage further research in the area. In the 2001 IPCC Third Assessment Report, an initial assessment of the subject had been included; however, the topic had received relatively little international discussion. Specifically, the conference explored three issues: *For different levels of climate change what are the key impacts, for different regions and sectors and for the world as a whole? *What would such levels of

climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...

imply in terms of greenhouse gas stabilisation concentrations and emission pathways required to achieve such levels? *What options are there for achieving stabilisation of greenhouse gases at different stabilisation concentrations in the atmosphere, taking into account costs and uncertainties?

Conclusions

Among the conclusions reached, the most significant was a new assessment of the link between the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the increase in global temperature levels. Some researchers have argued that the most serious consequences of global warming might be avoided if global average temperatures rose by no more than 2 °C (3.6 °F) above

pre-industrial Pre-industrial society refers to social attributes and forms of political and cultural organization that were prevalent before the advent of the Industrial Revolution, which occurred from 1750 to 1850. ''Pre-industrial'' refers to a time befor ...

levels. It had generally been assumed that this would occur if greenhouse gas concentrations rose above 550 ppm

carbon dioxide equivalent Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period, relative to carbon dioxide (). It is expressed as a multiple of warming caused by the same mass of carbon dioxide ( ...

by volume. This concentration was, for example, informing government in certain countries, including the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

. The conference concluded that, at the level of 550 ppm, it was likely that 2 °C would be exceeded, according to the projections of more recent

climate model Numerical climate models (or climate system models) are mathematical models that can simulate the interactions of important drivers of climate. These drivers are the atmosphere, oceans, land surface and ice. Scientists use climate models to st ...

s. Stabilising

concentrations at 450 ppm would only result in a 50% likelihood of limiting global warming to 2 °C, and that it would be necessary to achieve stabilisation below 400 ppm to give a relatively high certainty of not exceeding 2 °C. The conference also claimed that, if action to reduce emissions is delayed by 20 years, rates of emission reduction may need to be 3 to 7 times greater to meet the same temperature target.

Reaction

As a result of changing opinion on the 'safe' atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, to which this conference contributed, the

UK government His Majesty's Government, abbreviated to HM Government or otherwise UK Government, is the central government, central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

changed the target in the Climate Change Act from 60% to 80% by 2050.

References

External links

* * Tyndall Centre
A strategic assessment of scientific and behavioural perspectives on 'dangerous' climate change
*

WWF-UK The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the ...

2°C Is Too Much! Evidence and Implications of Dangerous Climate Change in the Arctic
*Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

* ;News *April 19, 2007, ''Reuters''
World needs to axe greenhouse gases by 80 pct: report
*February 1, 2006, ''Euractive''
UK chief scientific adviser: Keeping CO2 concentration below 450ppm is 'unfeasible'
*January 30, 2006, ''BBC''
Stark warning over climate change
*January 30, 2006, ''BBC''
Climate report: the main points
*January 29, 2006, ''Washington Post''

*January 1, 2006, ''Times online''
World has only 20 years to stop climate disaster
*February 3, 2005, ''Guardian Unlimited''
Climate conference hears degree of danger
{{Global warming Climate change conferences 2005 in the environment

Objectives

Conclusions

Reaction

See also

References

Further reading

External links