The public is invited to a talk by a world expert in climate change and its effects on the planet.
 
Professor Thomas Stocker co-chairs ‘Working Group I: The Physical Science Basis’ of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Its Summary for Policymakers – based on a 1,535-page report assessing more than 9,000 scientific publications – was approved by IPCC-member governments in September last year.
 
This IPCC assessment cycle will be completed by the ‘Synthesis Report’ in October, which will bring together the physical impact and economic aspects on human-induced climate changed.
 
As Professor of Climate and Environmental Physics at the University of Bern’s Physics Institute in Switzerland, Thomas Stocker is widely regarded as a world expert in the science of climate change.
 
Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘The working group looked at evidence of climate change from around the world and confirmed, with even greater certainty than before, that it’s happening at an unprecedented rate and that, through the burning of fossil fuels and land use practices, humans have been the dominant cause since the mid-20th Century. As part of raising awareness of this hugely important issue, I am pleased that Professor Stocker has agreed to visit the Island to talk about the findings of the working group.’
 
There’s a chance for members of the public to hear and question the Professor at the Manx Museum, Douglas, on Tuesday 13th May at 6.15pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
 
Tickets are free but places are limited. To book, register via http://tinyurl.com/k5cwbtl or email Kristian.Cowin@gov.im stating the number of seats you require.
 
Minister Gawne added: ‘In light of recent publications by the IPCC Working Groups II and III, which looked at climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability and the mitigation of climate change, my Department will also be inviting speakers from these groups to the Island to present their findings at a later time.’
 
The IPCC was established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation in 1988 to provide the world with a scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.
 
The Isle of Man Government is committed to addressing the risks posed by climate change through appropriate adaptation, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 and by introducing an energy efficiency scheme for domestic and commercial properties.