Climate change: The Commission and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlight continued cooperation in the run-up to Paris

The reports provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading international body for the assessment of climate change, serve as the scientific basis for global climate action. This information is crucial for the negotiations for a new global climate agreement due to be concluded at the Paris Climate Summit (COP21) this December. In the run-up to Paris, the Commission today confirmed its continued support to the work of the IPCC and its newly elected Chair, Dr Hoesung Lee from the Republic of Korea. EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “The election of Dr Lee is a timely reminder that the political negotiations in Paris must be guided by climate science. The Paris Agreement must provide the framework for accelerating the global transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies, and the IPCC’s scientific work helps show us the way.” EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas said: “The EU wants the IPCC’s reports to be as robust and widely recognised as possible. We are funding state-of-the-art research that contributes to building up the science base on climate change, and many European scientists and institutions participate in the IPCC’s work. We are proud to be part of this important effort.” The EU supports the IPCC by continuing to fund high quality research that adds to the evidence base for consideration in the next Assessment Report, which is due to be published around 2020. The EU dedicates at least 35% of its Horizon 2020 funding to climate-related research. It also supports the activities of the IPCC Secretariat for example by providing funding to help the organisation broaden its outreach activities and involve more scientists from developing countries in the IPCC process. In his State of the Union speech before the European Parliament on 9 September the Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated the ambition of the EU to adopt an ambitious, robust and binding global climate deal at the Paris Climate Summit. More information: EU Climate Action, Horizon 2020, IPCC website.