Lessons learned and impacts of enhancing participation of young scientists in climate change science & IPCC – European perspective

08.12.2023, Science for Climate Action Pavilion | COP28 Sonia Seneviratne, ETH Zurich & IPCC
Youth, education & IPCC: European perspective
Working Group I – The Physical Science Basis
Lessons learned and impacts of enhancing participation of young
scientists in climate change science & IPCC – European perspective
Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne, ETH Zurich
IPCC WGI Vice-chair
sonia.seneviratne@ethz.ch
@SISeneviratne
Science for WMO/IPCC/MERI Climate Action Pavilion, COP28, 8.12.2023

The Climate Crisis: Perspective of Young Generations
Climate crisis:
The future of
young
generations is
at stake
Young
generations
should be
better
integrated in
the IPCC
process

The Climate Crisis: Perspective of Young Generations
Climate crisis:
The future of
young
generations is
at stake
Young
generations
should be
better
integrated in
the IPCC
process
(Thiery et al. 2021,
Science)

IPCC AR6 WGI: Statistics
63% first-time IPCC AR6 WGI authors; but recurring authors are often from Europe and
North America, i.e. possibly less first-author participation. To be considered in AR7!
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/outreach/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Press_Conference_Slides.pdf

Barriers for young scientists’ participation in IPCC
Some barriers for young women (and men)
from Europe participating in IPCC:
• Extensive in-person travel (time away
from family, flyingless movement)
• A mixture of in-person and virtual
meetings can be of advantage to ensure
less demands for travel
• NB: High number of authors from
Europe, who can travel to European
destinations by train; to also be
considered for CO2 footprint https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426575395959932074/

IPCC needs to be heard by the COP!!
https://climate.copernicus.eu/record-warm-november-consolidates-2023-warmest-year
How to motivate young researchers to contribute to IPCC reports if there is no
progress towards phasing out the use of fossil fuels in COP decisions? Are IPCC
reports even relevant?

IPCC SR15
CO2, fossil fuels and climate crisis
The cause of human-induced global warming is clear
(IPCC AR6 WG1, Fig. SPM.10)

IPCC SR15
Sources of CO2 emissions:
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Land use (deforestation)
The cause of human-induced global warming is clear
(IPCC AR6 WG1, Chapter 5: Fig 5.5)
CO2, fossil fuels and climate crisis

One question
Canada, 2023 & 2021
Germany, 2021
The world at >1.1°C
Pakistan, 2022
North hemisphere
heatwaves, 2023
Europe, 2022
Lybia, 2023

Conclusions
• Young generations are the more threatened by the climate crisis: It is essential
to involve them in the IPCC process
• As authors
• As observers
• As stakeholders
• For potential young authors in Europe, travel demand from past IPCC cycles
was not sustainable (time-wise, family-wise and CO2-wise): We need to rethink
the planning of meetings to have less demand for in-person meetings, while
ensuring continued financial support for contribution from less-developed
countries
• It will be difficult to get young persons engaged in the IPCC process if there is
no evidence that the strong scientific IPCC evidence is taken into account in the
COP decisions!

Thank you!
SIXTH ASSESSMENT REPORT

Lessons learned and impacts of enhancing participation of young scientists in climate change science & IPCC – European perspective

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Lessons learned and impacts of enhancing participation of young scientists in climate change science & IPCC – European perspective