IPCC special report on managing the risks of extreme weather events

Background

In recent years, extreme weather and climate events have taken many lives and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. Is climate change leading to increases in the number and severity of extreme events? How do social and environmental factors interact with weather and climate events to create disasters? And what can be done to make societies more resilient to extremes? A Special Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) – assesses the scientific information on these questions. The report’s 19-page Summary for Policymakers was released in November 2011, in Kampala, Uganda. The full report will be published electronically on Wednesday 28 March.

Draft agenda

A presentation of the report will take place at the International Environment House on Friday 30 March. This presentation is part of a series of outreach events in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, which, over the next several months, will introduce the report and provide a platform for policymakers and practitioners to discuss its implications.

09:45-10:00
• Coffee and Tea

10:00-10:05
• Welcome
• Jan Dusik, acting Director, Regional Office for Europe, UNEP

10:05-11:00
• Presentation of Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events (SREX)
• Introduction of panelists by Renate Christ, Secretary, IPCC (Moderator)
• Presentation of SREX by Thomas Stocker, Co-Chair Work. Group I
• Presentation by Sonia Seneviratne, Coordinating Lead Author, Chapter 3 entitled "Changes in climate extremes and their impacts on the natural physical environment"
• Presentation by Pascal Peduzzi, Lead Author, Chapter 4 entitled 'Changes in impacts of climate extremes: human systems and ecosystems'
• Presentation by Helena Molin-Valdes, Director a.i., UNISDR

11:00-12:00
• Questions and Answers