Transcript Slide 1

Launch of WGMS Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
Peter Gilruth, Ph.D
Director, Division of Early Warning and Assessment
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Mission & mandate (UNEP-DEWA)
Keep under review the state of & trends in the global
environment, and provide early warning of emerging
environmental problems and threats.
To help increase the capacity of governments to use
environmental information for decision making and
action planning for sustainable human development.
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
The role of science
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
e.g. climate change
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Reducing uncertainty leads to action
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Global-level reports
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
UNEP Medium Term Strategy
Six cross-cutting thematic priorities:
• Climate change;
• Disasters and conflicts;
• Ecosystem management;
• Environmental governance;
• Harmful substances and hazardous waste; and
• Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production.
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Facts & Figures!
And now….
Global ‘mini Atlas’ on glaciers ~
a comprehensive, long-term overview
with basic facts, figures and trends
….to better inform policy-makers,
research community and public at large.
First global overview report after the
1988 World Glacier Inventory,
complementing regular publications:
• Fluctuations of Glaciers (FoG)
(5-yearly since 1960)
•
Glacier Mass Balance Bulletins (MBB)
(2-yearly since 1988)
•
On-line World Glacier Inventory (WGI)
…and the Global Outlook for Ice & Snow (2007)
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Key points
•
•
•
•
Glaciers: solid monitoring efforts since …1894! Initiated by International Glacier Commission
at 6th International Geological Congress in Zurich, Switzerland;
Nowadays good overviews with long-term trends for many parts of the world…but many data
gaps persist, mainly in the Tropics, Central Asia and the Polar Regions;
Urgency of climate change and the need for scientifically-based adaptation strategies call
for re-start of interrupted time series in strategically important regions and strengthening
of the monitoring network;
More use of high-resolution remote sensing and geo-information technologies to compliment the
traditional field observations.
Bring users and producers of data together ~
support monitoring efforts and scientific assessments.
Thus
Look forward to work with WGMS and other core data services and undertake or support climate
and other scientific assessments with UN(EP), Panels and partners.
Download the glaciers report from http://www.grid.unep.ch/glaciers.
Printed copies available by early-mid September, please leave your name/card and we will
send it to you.
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Thank you
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008
Overview of the Science - Policy continuum
Launch of Global Glacier Changes: Facts and Figures
29th IPCC, Geneva 1 September, 2008