IHE Delft professor in IPCC AR7 scoping experts team
Roshanka Ranasinghe, IHE Delft Professor of Climate Change Impacts & Coastal Risk, has been appointed to be part of an expert group that will determine the scope of an upcoming key report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Ranasinghe is one of six Netherlands-based experts among the 66 scientists who make up the scoping team for three IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) working groups. The team’s members were selected from more than 1,000 nominations put forth by governments. Ranasinghe will join the working group focusing on the physical science basis of climate change at the inaugural meeting in December in Malaysia.
Climate mitigation
“The scoping team helps set the agenda for the AR7 report. As a scoping team member, I will be able to play a role in highlighting the key climate change challenges faced by the world, assessing adaptation measures, and providing insights as to where we are in terms of climate mitigation, and much more,” Ranasinghe said.
Major advances in climate science in recent years has led the IPCC to provide stark warnings to governments and society about the imminent risks posed by human-induced climate change. Despite the warnings and undisputable science, not enough action has been taken to prevent further warming. Unprecedented changes in climate are already affecting the planet, with people in poor regions suffering the most.
As a scoping team member, I will be able to play a role in highlighting the key climate change challenges faced by the world, assessing adaptation measures, and providing insights as to where we are in terms of climate mitigation, and much more.
Ranasinghe was a Coordinating Lead Author for Working Group I for the IPCC Assessment Report 6 (AR6), which was published in 2021.
“Our assessment showed that almost every inhabited region of the world is already affected by climate change. And that with every fraction of warming, more and more regions will start feeling the effects of climate change in multiple ways,” Ranasinghe said about AR6.
With every fraction of warming, more and more regions will start feeling the effects of climate change in multiple ways
Informed decisions
IPCC Assessment Reports provide decision makers with the scientific evidence they need to take informed decisions on climate policy. These policies need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions urgently in order to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius as agreed in the Paris Agreement. Reining in global warming is necessary to halt the devastating effects of climate change.
Rosh Ranasinghe
Professor of Climate Change Impacts & Coastal Risk
Related
News ·
IHE Delft Artist-in-Residence Roger Anis: Capturing the Nile’s water stories
As a visual storyteller and photographer, IHE Delft’s artist-in-residence, Roger Anis, brings a unique perspective combining his personal and professional journey along the Nile River. Born in Minya, a city on the Nile in central Egypt, Anis’s strong personal connection with the Nile has shaped his fascination with the river. Anis has devoted his career to capturing Nile-related stories that transcend geography and borders while highlighting the lives of the millions who live along its banks.
News ·
Exploring liquid heritages: A talk by Sara Ahmed on the Living Waters Museum
Water is a fundamental resource that sustains life and communities, yet its deep cultural and historical significance is often overlooked. Understanding water heritage—where it comes from, how it’s used, and where it flows — raises awareness about the value of water, especially in young minds. This is what brought Sara Ahmed to found the Living Waters Museum in 2017.
News ·
The World Meteorological Organization and IHE Delft continue to collaborate on hydro-climate research
In May 2023, at the 19th World Meteorological Congress held in Geneva, Switzerland, IHE Delft and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) renewed their long-term commitment to collaborate with each other. IHE Delft Rector Eddy Moors and Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director of Hydrology and Cryosphere at WMO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership for the next 5 years.