Bangkok--17 Apr--Asian Institute of Technology
Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal of the Asian Institute of Technology’s energy field of study is one of the world-leading researchers who have contributed to the latest IPCC report on global climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on April 13 approved the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group III (WGIII) contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report.
The report unveiled in Berlin, Germany entitled Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change is the third of three Working Group reports, which, along with a Synthesis Report due in October 2014, constitute the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report on climate change.
Dr. Shobhakar is Co-Coordinating Lead Author of the chapter on Human Settlements, Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, along with Dr. Karen Seto of Yale University.
The Nepal native is one of only two scientists from Thailand-based institutes to contribute to the report that was meticulously researched, written, reviewed, and finalized by 235 authors from 58 countries. The worldwide scientific collaboration of international experts took over four years to complete.
SEE DETAILS: http://mitigation2014.org/contributor/chapter-12
Working Group III assesses all relevant options for mitigating climate change through limiting or preventing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing activities that remove them from the atmosphere.
According to the report, it would be possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behaviour, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, only major institutional and technological change will give a better than even chance that global warming will not exceed this threshold.
Commenting on the context of the challenge, Dr. Shobhakar said: "Business as usual is not an option in combating global climate change, as the cost of inaction or delay exceeds the cost of action. Mitigation challenges from human settlements are huge and there are windows of opportunities, but they will be fast closing in next two decades if we do not act soon.
"Urban areas are critical for global climate change mitigation given 52% global population living in urban areas now which is likely to increase to about 64-69% by 2050 and urban areas are already contributing a large majority of global energy use (67-75%) and energy related CO2 emissions (71-76%)."
He added: “Large opportunities exist in rapidly urbanizing areas where new cities and new infrastructure are being and will be built. It is crucial that we set urban form and make infrastructure choices correct in these new urban settlements so that they do not lock-in into high carbon pathways. However, these are also the areas where governance, institutional, technical, and financial capacity might be a limiting factor. Density, land use mix, connectivity, and accessibilities are key drivers for energy and CO2 emissions mediated by infrastructure."
Speaking on the solutions available to humanity, Dr. Shobhakar said: "The mitigation options vary from place to place – but there are no silver bullets. It needs systemic and integrated solutions that cut across several sectors such as job-housing, transport-land use, and energy demand and supply densities.
"In order to realize these opportunities, institutional arrangements, governance mechanisms, and financial resources should be aligned with the goals of reducing urban GHG emissions. Proper governance is a big key, as policies across many sectors need to be bundled for greater effectiveness. The level of implementation and effectiveness of current climate change mitigation plans of thousands of cities needs to be further strengthened.
"If we are successful in urban climate change mitigation, it also can provide several other co-benefits such as mitigation of air pollution, improvement in human health, reduction of congestion, economic productivity, and access to new finance amongst others."