Conference of Dr Laurent BOPP, member of the French Academy of Sciences

Conference summary

Global surface temperatures have already increased by nearly 1.4 °C relative to the pre-industrial period. Robust scientific evidence shows that 100% of this observed warming is attributable to human activities, primarily through emissions of greenhouse gases. This warming is accompanied by profound changes in the climate system, including a growing frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heatwaves, extreme precipitation, and droughts, as well as widespread glacier and ice-sheet melt and accelerating sea-level rise. Given current emission trends, the internationally agreed objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is now considered out of reach.

In this conference, Dr Bopp will first present an overview of the current state of the climate system, drawing on key climate indicators such as greenhouse gas concentrations, temperature, cryosphere evolution, and ocean changes. He will then show how future climate change critically depends on societal choices and greenhouse-gas emission pathways, highlighting the need to reach net zero emissions to stabilize global temperature. Particular attention will be paid to the methods used to project future climate, including climate models, scenario frameworks, and sources of uncertainty.

The final part of the talk will be devoted to climate solutions, addressing both mitigation strategies to reduce emissions and adaptation measures to limit climate risks and impacts. This talk is largely based on the most recent assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which provide the most comprehensive and authoritative synthesis of current climate knowledge.