Scotsman James Skea elected new IPCC chair in Nairobi

James Ferguson ‘Jim’ Skea of the United Kingdom was elected as the new chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in Nairobi, Kenya. Skea beat his nearest rival, Thelma Krug of Brazil, in a run-off. He won 90 votes while Krug won 69. Krug, an IPCC vice-chair and former researcher at Brazil’s national space institute, narrowly missed a chance to be the first female chair of the IPCC.

The election took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, where the IPCC is holding its 59th Session. Elections for other positions in the IPCC Bureau, including the Co-Chairs of the IPCC Working Groups, will take place from July 26-28. Skea is Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College in London. He has nearly 40 years of climate science experience and expertise. Skea will lead the IPCC through its seventh assessment cycle.

The election of the new IPCC Bureau, which will have 34 members, including the Chair, opens the way for work to start on the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report, expected to be completed in the coming five to seven years. The Panel will also elect the 12 members of the Task Force Bureau on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

All about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations body established in 1988. It is a scientific organization responsible for assessing and providing objective information on climate change, its impacts, and potential adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• The IPCC operates through the collaboration of thousands of scientists from around the world who volunteer to contribute their expertise and research. These scientists review and assess the latest scientific literature to produce comprehensive assessment reports.
• The IPCC’s assessment reports serve as a crucial basis for policymakers and governments to make informed decisions on climate-related policies and actions. These reports highlight the state of climate science, potential risks, and possible pathways to address the challenges posed by climate change.

The IPCC’s work has been instrumental in raising global awareness about climate change and the urgent need for collective action to combat its adverse effects. The organization’s efforts have played a pivotal role in shaping international climate agreements and frameworks, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

Through its scientific assessments, the IPCC continues to be a key contributor in the ongoing global efforts to tackle climate change and its far-reaching impacts on the environment, society, and the economy.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Founded: 1988;
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Founder: Bert Bolin;
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

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