Events

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Walker Institute Annual Lecture 2009

When: 2nd June 2009, 5.45 to 7.30pm

Where: The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG.

5.45 Registration

6.00 Welcome from Prof Nigel Arnell, Walker Institute Director

6.05 "From Climate Science to Climate Policy", Prof Robert Watson, Defra Chief Scientific Adviser

6.45 Q & A

7.00 Drinks reception and Walker Institute research showcase

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Understanding the climate system

From Climate Science to Climate Policy
		Prof Robert Watson, Defra Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Robert Watson has been the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) since September 2007. His main role is to provide ministers with the best possible scientific advice and build on existing measures to ensure that science and technology are used to inform policy.
Professor Watson was previously at the World Bank where he was the Chief Scientist and Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development. He has also held senior positions at NASA and, more recently, at the White House, where he was responsible for ensuring that science underpinned policy making.
Abstract: The climate change debate has shifted from doubt to certainty. The challenge now is to agree global actions to reduce the worst impacts and to adapt to climate change. At COP-15 in Copenhagen this December, the world will try to agree greenhouse gas emission reduction targets beyond 2012, so this is a key time in the international climate agenda. Professor Watson will talk about how the latest science is helping to inform these crucial policy discussions. He will also look at how our national climate change policy fits into the international framework and how the UK is influencing the wider discussion. Policymakers need information about the likely impacts of climate change, on food, water security, biodiversity and ecosystem services and crucially, the extent to which impacts are avoided if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Scientific information to inform climate change adaptation decisions is also crucial. Here detailed information at the regional scale about climate change and the frequency of extremes is especially important. Information about climate change over the next 1 to 2 decades as well as likely impacts by the end of the century are needed. Professor Watson will look at the latest science and the key challenges for the future.