Four Geosciences colleagues contributing to IPCC reports
As part of Utrecht University, the Faculty of Geosciences aims to contribute to climate action and environmental sustainability. In its organisational policies, such as the zero-waste pilot in the VM-A building, and so many of its research focus areas. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the world’s most influential institutions in its field. On behalf of the UN, it is tasked with assessing the science related to climate change, and ‘provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies.’ Last year, we had the pleasure of announcing three Geo Sciences staff members as Lead Authors on the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). Now, even more valued colleagues have joined their efforts, both for AR7 and in the IPCC Cities and Climate Change Special Report.
Dr Vassilis Daioglou is a senior scientist at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and a guest lecturer at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. As Lead Author in Working Group III on Mitigation of Climate Change, he is contributing to Chapter 3 “Projected Futures in the Context of Sustainable Development and Climate Change”.
Niki Frantzeskaki is Professor in Regional and Metropolitan Governance and Planning at the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning. She has been selected as Lead Author for Chapter 2, “Cities in a changing climate: trends, challenges and opportunities,” of the Cities and Climate Change Report, scheduled for publication in 2027.
Dr Catrin Harris researches Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and is based at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, in collaboration with PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Harris is a Lead Author for Chapter 6 “CO₂ Transport, Injection, and Geological Storage” in the Working Group Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI).
Kiara Lasch, MSc, PhD student with the Department of Physical Geography, is part of Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability with Prof. Marjolijn Haasnoot. As a Chapter Scientist, Lasch supports the Coordinating Lead Authors and the Lead Authors throughout the process of writing Chapter 4 titled “Adaptation Options and Conditions for Accelerating Action”.