A new scientific paper proposing a scenario of unstoppable climate change has gone viral, thanks to its evocative description of a “Hothouse Earth”. Richard Betts analyses its content. Much of the media coverage suggests that we face an imminent and unavoidable extreme climate catastrophe. But as a climate scientist who has carried out similar research myself, […]
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has invited more than 700 experts from 90 countries to participate in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) as Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors and Review Editors. The Report will inform policymakers, international climate negotiators and other stakeholders about the latest knowledge on all aspects of climate change. The bureaux […]
Deliverable Report 4.4 by Rachel Warren of the University of East Anglia and HELIX co-authors
Deliverable Report 2.4 by Craig Wallace and Tim Osborn of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia and Jason Lowe and Ban Bernie of the UK Met Office Hadley Centre.
Our research suggests that weather extremes caused by climate change could raise the risk of food shortages in many countries. We looked at the difference between global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C and found that – despite increased vulnerability to food insecurity in both scenarios – the effects could be worse for most countries at 2°C. […]
Based on their four years of HELIX training workshops around Europe and elsewhere on the practice and theory of the science of climate change communication, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Climate Outreach have published this online resource A guide to the science of science communication
Others are not – we have a choice over whether we avoid them or not We are certain to see sea level rise, says Prof. Richard Betts. We already warmed the earth by 1oC relative to preindustrial levels but the full effect has not kicked in yet. It takes a long time for ice on […]
We provide guidance for researchers on how the accessibility of data visuals can be enhanced while also maintaining scientific rigour. Data visuals support communication of climate change. Yet they can be difficult for diverse stakeholders in society to understand. Our new report provides twelve guidelines for putting our recommendations into practice that draw on cognitive and psychological science evidence […]
What do 4 C and 6 C worlds look like in comparison to 2 C & 1.5 C? and What are the consequences of different adaptation choices? The core of our HELIX work has looked at the global scale, but there is an additional focus on three key regions of Europe, northern sub-Saharan Africa, and the Indian sub-continent. Ashvin Gossain […]
HELIX members organized a workshop on Food Security and Climate Change, in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 8 to 9 May 2017, aimed at providing a forum for scientists, food security experts, government officials and NGOs to come together and explore the major climate impacts on the availability, accessibility, utilization and stability of food for the people […]
Everyone is welcome to join this event at the University of Exeter hosted by the HELIX project on 4 October 2017. Featuring a distinguished panel of project scientists and stakeholders, we invite you to hear about our findings and discuss what they could mean for our future. Our panel features the following expertise: Panel Chair: Dr Astrid Wissenburg, […]
Glastonbury 2070? How the festival might have to cope with 4℃ of global warming Richard Betts, University of Exeter Glastonbury, Britain’s largest and most famous music festival, is a great symbol of the many faces of the global climate change debate. It’s full of people enjoying life and relying on technology, easily available energy and […]
At the festival’s Speaker’s Forum, Richard Betts will discuss the science of climate change and take part in panel discussions and interviews with other prominent figures in the climate change debate. “Climate change is a complex topic with some important and fascinating science behind it,” says Professor Betts. “As we continue the debate on what […]
The three EU-funded sister projects on high-end climate change, HELIX, IMPRESSIONS and RISES-AM have drawn upon their wide range of expertise from many disciplines across the natural and social sciences to develop new understanding of the implications and risks of exceeding 20C, adapting to the climate changes. The new book, High-End Climate Change in Europe examines […]
HELIX sponsored a major climate change communication event to engage the general public, seen by nearly 26k people. Respond: Climate Change was a unique exhibition in October 2017, bringing together four contemporary artists to explore the issue of climate change, in a very public space, at The Forum, during the fiurst Norwich Science Festival The […]
The Paris Agreement entered into force yesterday, as the minimum required number of countries ratified the Convention. Accounting together for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. Prof Saiful Islam of the Bangladesh University of Technology writes about his expections of the major follow-up meeting in Marrakesh, starting Monday 7 […]
HELIX is sponsoring two major climate change communication events to engage the general public. On Saturday 22 October at the Norwich Science Festival in the UK is the participatory discovery trail Theatre for families, ‘You’re Getting Warmer‘ Hurry – we don’t have much time! The Three and a Half Degrees Gang are on their way, and […]
Under high-end scenarios, our regional temperature increase could be between 3.7°C and 5.7°C, writes Professor Saiful Islam of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), writing for the Dhaka Tribune with Meraz Mostafa. The hottest month in history
The rising concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has passed a symbolic threshold early due to the fastest annual increase on record The human-caused rise in atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is being given an extra boost this year by the natural climate phenomena of El Niño, say climate scientists in a paper published in today’s […]
Deliverable Report 4.4 by Rachel Warren of the University of East Anglia and HELIX co-authors
Senegal’s HELIX partner, ANACIM, the country’s Met Service (Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie), has been working with community radio journalists on the difference between weather and climate for the benefit of better communication to farmers and rural communities. A new platform has been established for disseminating weather and climate information through […]
The results of four years of rigorous research will be presented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted in Bonn under Fiji presidency. Follow us on Twitter @helixclimate and Facebook to find out which climate change impacts are already locked in.