policy determination in other areas of concern. The elements which we have
mentioned which have been critical to the success of the IPCC have been those of:
(1) ensuring the widest possible participation by experts from all relevant
disciplines; (2) ensuring a clear separation between scientific assessment and
policy determination and (3) through the close involvement of the expert
community, of governments and, more recently, of relevant industry, ensuring
wide ownership not only by the community of experts but also by those who have
a stake in the policy process. Although anthropogenic climate change is perhaps
the largest and most complex problem concerned with the global environment
that we face, it is not unique. Models similar to that of the IPCC with its essential
elements could be applied elsewhere.
Climate change is, of course, not the only global issue facing the planet.
Because of the commonality between them, other problems such as population
growth, over resource use and poverty need to be considered alongside climate
change and other environmental problems (e.g. biodiversity loss, deforestation,
desertification, etc.). Addressing all these together is a tremendous challenge and
there is a clear imperative for more mutual understanding and more genuine
cooperation in the international arena. The development of the work of the IPCC
has demonstrated the enormous capacity for the international community to
work together towards the common aims of care for humanity and care for the
environment and provides encouragement in the belief that problems as complex
as that of climate change are capable of solution.
13 Acknowledgements
The achievements of the IPCC have only been possible because of the dedicated
work of many people, contributors, authors, reviewers and supporting staff at the
Technical Support Units of the Working Groups and the IPCC Secretariat. For
Working Group I, dealing with the scientific basis, I particularly wish to
acknowledge the Lead Authors of the chapters and the Technical Summaries and
the members of the Technical Support Unit in Bracknell led in turn by Geoffrey
Jenkins (for the 1990 Report), Bruce Callander (for the 1995 Report) and David
Griggs (for the 2001 Report) who have played a absolutely key part in organizing
the work of the hundreds of scientists worldwide who have been involved.
J. Houghton
20
mentioned which have been critical to the success of the IPCC have been those of:
(1) ensuring the widest possible participation by experts from all relevant
disciplines; (2) ensuring a clear separation between scientific assessment and
policy determination and (3) through the close involvement of the expert
community, of governments and, more recently, of relevant industry, ensuring
wide ownership not only by the community of experts but also by those who have
a stake in the policy process. Although anthropogenic climate change is perhaps
the largest and most complex problem concerned with the global environment
that we face, it is not unique. Models similar to that of the IPCC with its essential
elements could be applied elsewhere.
Climate change is, of course, not the only global issue facing the planet.
Because of the commonality between them, other problems such as population
growth, over resource use and poverty need to be considered alongside climate
change and other environmental problems (e.g. biodiversity loss, deforestation,
desertification, etc.). Addressing all these together is a tremendous challenge and
there is a clear imperative for more mutual understanding and more genuine
cooperation in the international arena. The development of the work of the IPCC
has demonstrated the enormous capacity for the international community to
work together towards the common aims of care for humanity and care for the
environment and provides encouragement in the belief that problems as complex
as that of climate change are capable of solution.
13 Acknowledgements
The achievements of the IPCC have only been possible because of the dedicated
work of many people, contributors, authors, reviewers and supporting staff at the
Technical Support Units of the Working Groups and the IPCC Secretariat. For
Working Group I, dealing with the scientific basis, I particularly wish to
acknowledge the Lead Authors of the chapters and the Technical Summaries and
the members of the Technical Support Unit in Bracknell led in turn by Geoffrey
Jenkins (for the 1990 Report), Bruce Callander (for the 1995 Report) and David
Griggs (for the 2001 Report) who have played a absolutely key part in organizing
the work of the hundreds of scientists worldwide who have been involved.
J. Houghton
20