IPCC Working Group II: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
"In its reports, Working Group II assesses the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the vulnerability (sensitivity and adaptability) to climate change of, and the negative and positive consequences for, ecological systems, socio-economic sectors and human health, with an emphasis on regional sectoral and cross-sectoral issues." (from WGII website)
Adaptive capacity is the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.
Sensitivity is the degree to which a system will respond to a change in climatic conditions.
Vulnerability is the extent to which climate change will damage or harm a system. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.
IPCC Plenary approved the Fourth Assessment Report of WGII, on 02-05 April 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
According to the Boulder Daily Camera, at least five Boulder-based scientists participated in the WG2 report. Linda Mearns, a senior scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder and lead author of a chapter of the report. Three others from NCAR also worked on the report: scientists Patricia Romero Lankao and Susanne Moser, and economist Kathleen Miller. NOAA and WWA scientist Roger Pulwarty, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Laboratory, is also an author. (http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/apr/02/report-will-detail-impact-of-warming/ )
IPCC AR4 Report: Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
Full Report
Summary for Policy Makers
Technical Summary
Federal Climate Legislation: WWA's guide to past and current legislation that addresses adaptation and mitigation of climate change. Legislation also is representative of the attempt to establish a federal climate program office.
Link to WWA's Impacts and Vulnerability page
Link to WWA's Adaptation and Mitigation page
WWA Guide to IPCC home
Climate Change Home
