Climate change is happening now. In its fifth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that in the absence of climate protection policies, continued emissions could increase the global surface temperature by up to 6°C between the pre-industrial period and 2100. 

Impacts on biodiversity, agriculture, water supply, ecosystems, coastal regions and health would be severe. There are some adaptation options, but there are limits. 
Climate-friendly policies offer opportunities to move towards a more sustainable model of development. 

This talk will provide an overview of both the challenges and the opportunities, and explain the role of the IPCC in assessing them.