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for 2081−2100 relative to 1986–2005 will likely be in the ranges of 0.26 to 0.55 m adaptation and vulnerability and the Working Group-III
for RCP2.6, 0.32 to 0.63 m for RCP4.5, 0.33 to 0.63 m for RCP6.0, and 0.45 to 0.82 report due to be completed in April 2014 would assess
m for RCP8.5. For RCP8.5, the rise by the year 2100 is 0.52 to 0.98 m, with a rate mitigation measures. Finally, the Synthesis Report (SYR)
–1
during 2081–2100 of 8 to 16 mm yr . These ranges are derived from specifc climate which would be completed in October 2014 would
projections in combination with process-based models and literature assessment of essentially synthesise the material from all the three
glacier and ice sheet contributions. Working Group reports as well as special reports which
have been brought out by the IPCC since the AR4. The
In the case of the carbon cycle it was found that climate change will affect carbon cycle IPCC produces assessments which are policy relevant
processes in a way that will exacerbate the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. Further but not policy prescriptive. The SYR would provide
uptake of carbon by the ocean will increase ocean acidifcation. Human actions in the a comprehensive assessment of policy relevance in
past have limited the choices now available to us for reduction of GHG emissions in relation to actions that need to be taken to deal with the
the future. For instance, limiting the warming caused by anthropogenic CO2 emissions challenge of climate change. But the reinforcement and
alone with a probability of >33%, >50%, and >66% to less than 2°C since the period elaboration of the fndings of the AR4 as contained in
1861–1880, will require cumulative CO2 emissions from all anthropogenic sources to the AR5 WG-I report tell us clearly that human society
stay between 0 and about 1560 GtC, 0 and about 1210 GtC, and 0 and about 1000 GtC already has adequate scientifc knowledge on the basis
since that period respectively. These upper amounts are reduced to about 880 GtC, 840 of which action can be taken to deal with the challenge
GtC, and 800 GtC respectively, when accounting for non-CO2 forcings as in RCP2.6. An of climate change.
amount of 531 (446 to 616) GtC, was already emitted by 2011.
Dr Rajendra Pachauri is Director-General of the Energy
As part of the AR5 three other reports are due to be completed and released by the & Resources Institute (TERI) and chairman of the
IPCC. The Working Group-II report due in March 2014 would deal with impacts, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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