Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation

Introduction:

As part of the Final Government Distribution of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN), the U.S. Government is conducting a review of the Summary for Policymakers for the report. This web site is posted on the internet for the sole purpose of facilitating the U.S. Government review at this time. The U.S. Government provided comments previously as part of the Government and Expert Review hosted on this web site.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the U.S. Climate Change Technology Program are coordinating the comments U.S. Government comments on the SPM of the report. The Global Change Research Program and Climate Change Technology Program Offices will coordinate collation of U.S. Federal scientists and program managers in order to develop a consolidated U.S. Government submission.

Background on the Report

The IPCC develops a comprehensive assessment spanning all the above topics approximately every six years. In addition to these comprehensive assessments, the IPCC periodically develops Special Reports on specific topics. Preparation of Special Reports follows the same procedures as for the Assessment Reports. Governments develop and approve plans for reports, and nominate scientists and experts as lead authors and reviewers. Authors prepare the reports, which go through several stages of review, following which they are accepted by member governments at a session of the IPCC. Member governments also approve the executive summaries of the reports (known as a "summary for policy makers") in detail at the time that they accept the overall report. Principles and procedures for the IPCC and its preparation of reports can be found at the following web sites:

In April 2008, the IPCC approved the development of a Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) (add link). The SRREN is being developed under the leadership of the IPCC Working Group III. This Special Report aims to provide a better understanding and broader information on the mitigation potential of renewable energy sources. While the IPCC 4th Assessment Report (AR4) covered the full range of mitigation options, many governments as well as important actors in civil society and the private sector asked for more substantial information and broader coverage of all questions pertaining to the use of renewable energy sources (add link to IPCC page where you rest here).

The report is structured with technology chapters - bio-energy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy - which feed into overarching chapters. A system integration chapter brings different aspects of energy demand and supply together. The report also considers the policy options, outcomes and conditions for effectiveness, and how accelerated deployment could be achieved in a sustainable manner. Capacity building, technology transfer and financing in different regions are also assessed.