Media Advisory: Climate Change Seminars at Victoria University of Wellington

With the release of new key science findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Paris today (2 February), two seminars will be held at Victoria University's Rutherford House, Ground Floor, Bunny St, Pipitea Campus, Wellington on Wednesday 7 February.

One seminar will be primarily for scientists and policymakers and the other for the public. Both will allow considerable time for discussion.

The IPCC works under the aegis of the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Association, and has spent the last five years reviewing all aspects of regional and global climate and the changes that are taking place for this new (Fourth) assessment. This has involved more than 1,200 authors and more than 2,500 reviewers from the climate science community in more than 130 countries. This report will be released in stages, with three working group reports (2 February, 6 April, 4 May) and then a synthesis report (November). The working groups are:

- Science

- Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (including a specific chapter on Australia & New Zealand)

- Mitigation (including chapters on forestry & agriculture).

The seminars on 7 February have been organised by Victoria University of Wellington, the National Institute for Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Royal Society of New Zealand, and will include contributions by some of our most eminent scientists in this area, including Dr David Wratt (NIWA), who is also an IPCC Bureau Member and is in Paris for release of the report.

The times on Wednesday February 7 are:

12noon - 1.30pm - A presentation for the science community and those directly involved in the issue. Lecture Theatre 3 in Rutherford House.

Chair: Associate Professor Ralph Chapman (Victoria). Speakers will include Dr David Wratt, Dr Dave Lowe, Dr Jim Renwick (both at NIWA and IPCC lead authors) and Professor Peter Barrett (Victoria).

5pm - 6.30pm: A presentation for the general public Lecture Theatre 2 in Rutherford House
Chair: Professor Jonathan Boston (Victoria). Speakers will include Dr David Wratt, Professor Lionel Carter (Victoria) and Associate Professor Ralph Chapman (Victoria).

At both sessions around a third of the time will be available for discussion.

For more information, visit: http://ips.ac.nz/events/Upcoming%20events/IPCC.pdf

ENDS

www.rsnz.org