Stanford Scientists Informed Climate Agreement in Paris

Stanford scientists joined representatives from 196 countries around the world in Paris for the COP21 conference on climate change. The agreement reached seeks to limit the rise in global temperature to below 2°C above preindustrial levels. The university issued a formal statement ahead of the accord that read in part, “Our students and faculty are actively addressing the climate challenge, and Stanford itself has taken a leadership role in finding, modeling and implementing solutions.”

For decades, Stanford researchers have informed the global understanding of climate risk and adaptation. Their work has included major contributions to reports of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Woods fellows, including Chris Field, who co-chaired the IPCC’s Working Group II that focused on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerabilities related to climate change, and others in the Stanford community contributed significantly to the discussions in Paris and of the challenges to come.