28 March 2012: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its full report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX). The report examines how climate extremes, in combination with social vulnerability, determine the impacts and likelihood of disasters, and the influence of climate change on climate extremes and other events that can contribute to disasters.

The Special Report features nine chapters on: risk management, observed and projected changes in extreme weather and climate events; exposure and vulnerability to, as well as losses resulting from, such events; local and international adaptation options; the role of sustainable development in modulating risks; and insights from specific case studies. The Special Report was drafted jointly by Working Group I (The Physical Science Basis) and Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability) of the IPCC.

Among other findings, the Special Report identifies a likely increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events or proportion of total rainfall. SREX also identifies, with medium confidence, an increase in the length or number of warm spells or heat waves.

At the launch of the report, Chris Field, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II explained that “the main message from the report is that we know enough to make good decisions about managing the risks of climate-related disasters. Sometimes we take advantage of this knowledge, but many times we do not.”

SREX authors will present report findings to stakeholders in developed and developing countries, and are scheduled to share findings with policy makers in Latin America, Asia and Africa. [IPCC Press Release] [Publication: IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation]