Conference
International Panel on Climate Change in Cities:
IPC3 Assessment Report Concept Paper
Overview
The purpose of the IPC3 Assessment Report is to provide a process by which expert knowledge may contribute to the development and implementation of effective urban climate change policies and programs. Since responding to the complex challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation requires a knowledge-based approach, the IPC3 Report will provide a tool for policymakers as they ‘mainstream’ responses to climate change in urban areas. The IPC3 Report will define the ‘state-of-the-knowledge’ and identify key areas for further research relevant to the needs of urban policymakers.
The process of creating the IPC3 Assessment Report began with a scoping activity to solicit the key questions that urban policy makers want answered, as well as to survey current and relevant topics in urban climate change research. In November 2008, over 50 UCCRN researchers from cities around the world convened at Columbia University in New York City to develop a report outline. Authors are now engaged in research and writing process to create a readily-accessible and focused report, which will be thoroughly reviewed by experts and policy makers for technical and relevant content.
The Report will be comprised of sections highlighting key topics in climate science, mitigation, and adaptation addressed from an urban perspective. Other sections will address Urban Climate Risks, Public Health, Water and Wastewater Management, Energy and Buildings, Transportation, Land Use, and Policies.
Policy options will be a key part of the mitigation and adaptation sections. The important role of communities in cities, both as vulnerable populations and as participants in formulating response to climate change, will be highlighted.
The IPC3 Report will be published about every two years. The preliminary findings from the report process will be discussed in a side event at the C40 Conference in Seoul, and the final version will be released at the COP 15 Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.