Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change - DEFRA

The International Symposium on Stabilisation of Greenhouse Gas Concentrations – Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change – took place, at the invitation of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and under the sponsorship of the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Defra), at the Met Office, Exeter, United Kingdom, on 1-3 February 2005.

The conference discussed the long-term implications of different levels of climate change for different sectors and for the world as a whole. Major themes included key vulnerabilities of the climate system and critical thresholds, socio-economic effects, both globally and regionally, mission pathways to climate stabilisation and technological options available to achieve stabilisation levels.

The conference brought together over 200 participants from some 30 countries, mainly including scientists, and representatives from international organisations and national governments. The conference offered a unique opportunity for scientists to exchange views on the consequences and risks presented to the natural and human systems as a result of changes on the world's climate, and on the pathways and technologies to limit greenhouse gas emissions and their concentrations in the atmosphere.

This Executive Summary was prepared by the International Scientific Steering Committee (February 2005) and summarises the findings presented at the conference. A longer report prepared by the Steering Committee is available on the conference web site at www.stabilisation2005.com. The original papers presented at the conference are also available on the web site.