The IPCC report an important documentation of the need for political action

We will experience more severe climate changes than previously expected: Part I of the IPCC Fourth Assesment Report released today confirms that climate change is human induced.

“The report is the most important and comprehensive assessment of the scientific knowledge on climate change I have seen. It will have a great impact on the international negotiations for new and more ambitious commitments on emission reductions”, the Norwegian minister for the Environment, Helen Bjørnøy, says.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that most of the increase in global average temperature over the last 50 years most likely is due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. The climate changes will be larger and more severe than previously expected.

“Norway and the EU have established a goal of limiting the increase in global average temperature to a maximum of 2°C. To me the IPCC-report clearly underlines the urgency of using this goal as a basis for further negotiations on reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions”, the minister says.

The existing commitments under the Climate Convention and its Kyoto Protocol are far from sufficient to adequately respond to the challenge of climate change.

“We need new and more ambitious agreements which can ensure major and sustained reductions in global emissions. The developed countries have the main responsibility for the human induced climate change, and thus a special responsibility for ensuring sufficient reductions. Norway will take its share of this responsibility,” the Minister says.

Further information can be obtained from the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT).

Contact information: Deputy Director Håvard Toresen 22 24 59 73