The Norwegian Nobel Committee says that extensive climate change may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind, potentially inducing large-scale migration and increasing competition for the Earth’s resources. This could increase the danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.
“I can't think of a better combination for this award – the previously unsung and much-falsely maligned legion of scientific whistleblowers, and their tireless chief advocate,” said Jeremy Leggett, chief executive officer of Solar Century and fellow in solar energy at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute. “Perhaps now the shrivelling band of fossil-fuel-funded contrarians and car-enthusiast media stars will finally have the good grace to shut up with the ignorance they pedal about the threat we face."
By making this award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee says it is seeking a sharper focus on the decisions necessary to protect the world’s future climate, and so to reduce the threat to the security of mankind. “Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control,” says the committee’s press release.
Al Gore, former vice-president of the US, helped spread the word about climate change with his book and documentary film An Inconvenient Truth. “His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books has strengthened the struggle against climate change,” said the Nobel Committee. “He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted.”
The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Association and United Nations Environment Programme. Its role is to assess objectively the scientific, technical and socio-economic information on human-induced climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC released the first three parts of its fourth assessment report earlier this year; the synthesis report on the fourth assessment is due out in November. Numerous scientists worldwide have contributed to the IPCC.
“The award recognizes the work of hundreds of scientists from all around the world who have been working for years to shed light on what is happening to our climate, what is causing it to change, what the consequences of that change are and what the global community can and must do to avert a global disaster,” said Saleemul Huq, Head of the Climate Change Group at the International Institute for Environment and Development, UK. “This should give fresh impetus to efforts to agree action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and helping vulnerable communities to adapt to the changes ahead. Meeting this global challenge will require both political leadership and personal sacrifices the world over, but particularly in the rich nations that have contributed most to the problem historically."