The University of Botswana in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT) will host, for the first time in its history, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Lead Author meeting from the 9th to 13th April 2018 at the UB Conference Centre. The high level meeting will be officially opened by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane on the 9th April, from 0900hrs at UB Conference Centre.
The IPCC meeting is expected to bring to Botswana over 100 high level climate change experts from nearly 40 countries to work on one of the most significant climate change reports in the climate change discourse, a Special Report on: “The impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty (IPCC SR1.5) ”.
University of Botswana will host the meeting
The IPCC SR1.5 was sanctioned by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) following the historic 2015 Paris Agreement that was attended by 195 Heads of States including the former President Lt. Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama. The IPCC SR1.5 is assessing the feasibility by the international community to meet the ambition of the Paris Agreement, which is: to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2ºC above preindustrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 °C.
So far the IPCC has met 3 times: In Brazil where they produced the first internal draft, in Exeter UK where they produced the First Order draft for review by scientists, in Malmo Sweden where the 3rd Order draft was produced for Government review. The 4th Lead Author meeting which is being held in Gaborone is expected to produce the Final Report.
The meeting which is overseen by the Botswana Global Environmental Change Committee (BGCC) under the Office of Research and Development (ORD) at UB and Botswana National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) under the Department of Meteorological Services, MENT will be preceded by several activation activities starting on the 5th April 2018 organized by partner NGOs and Academia.
The activation events are as follows: – 5th April 2018 (1800-2000) A presentation on Climate Change: Past, Present and Future, at the UB Environment Science Block, by Professors Myles Allen and O.P. Dube for MSc Students – 6th April (0900-1100) A discussion on Climate Modelling at UB by Professor Myles Allen, Mr Tlhalerwa (ES Dpt) for Academia – 6th April 2018 (1430-1630) A presentation on Climate Modelling for Agriculture and the Environment at BUAN by Professor Myles Allen, O.P. Dube and BUAN Staff for Academia – 8th April 2018 (1400-1700) A presentation and discussion on Climate Change And Rural Communities: Minimizing Risks and Optimising Benefits at the Ramotswa Kgotla. This discussion will be attended by the community leadership led Kgosi Mosadi Seboko, DC, and IPCC SR – 9th April 2018 (1830-2000) A presentation on Climate Challenge: challenges to sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems and their economic benefits to communities, at the National Museum. This will be led by Kalahari Conservation Society and IPCC. It is open to members of the public. – 12th April 2018 (1830-2000) A consultative dialogue on the IPCC 1,5 Special Report In the Context Of Sustainable Development and Efforts For Poverty Eradication at UB, Centre for Continuing Education. This will be led by Botswana Climate Change Network, it will be attended by youth, students and members of the public.
