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New independent Climate Crisis Advisory Group urges World Leaders to Act Immediately

The Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) chaired by Sir David King comprises 14 climate scientists, including Dr Arunabha Ghosh, from across the globe.

New Delhi, 24th June 2021: A new independent international scientific body, the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG), has been launched today to provide expert advice and guidance to global leaders as they seek further commitments to combat the climate crisis.

Chaired by Sir David King, former Chief Scientific Advisor, UK Government, the CCAG includes 14 world-leading scientists from a range of climate-related disciplines. Dr Arunabha Ghosh, Founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water is one of two Indian members in the group, in addition to Prof. Lavanya Rajamani, Professor of International Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford.

Commenting on the creation and launch of the independent group, Sir David King, Chair, CCAG, said, “I believe we have five years left to get on top of this global problem. We began talking seriously about climate change in 1992, yet we are in a much worse position now – watching greenhouse gases increase year after year. We need to take action now and that is exactly what CCAG is set up to do. Each member is a world leading expert, with the knowledge and capabilities to address politicians, financial institutions, and members of the public with a degree of nimbleness that no other international expert body is capable of, focussing on real, tangible actions towards global climate change mitigation and repair for our future generations.”

Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, “The climate crisis is a great leveller, affecting the rich and the poor in both the developed and the developing countries. Last month, severe cyclonic storms - Yaas and Tauktae - battered India’s east and west coasts. Currently, a devastating heat wave is sweeping through large parts of the United States and Russia. While the frequency and intensity of such extreme climate events are increasing the world over, the pace of climate action remains far too slow. Much of the world’s citizens are not demanding more and faster climate action. The rich must act because of their responsibility. The poor must act because of their vulnerability. The focus now needs to be on connecting with the public at large on the climate crisis and bringing sustainability from the margins to the mainstream. And if we did, then a lot of answers we already have in our technical models and in our policy advisories can begin to get translated into real action on the ground.”

Alongside its launch today, the Group called for agile, international, political and financial action to mitigate the consequences of climate change through its coined “Reduction, Removal and Repair” measures.

Reduce: Current targets are not enough. Nations need to triple their emissions-cutting pledges to limit the effects of the climate crisis.

Remove: We need critical investment to develop research and scale techniques to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Repair: Deep research is needed to explore and investigate safe methods and technologies that could repair parts of our damaged climate systems.

CCAG will offer leading scientific advice in an open and transparent format to governments, stakeholders, and the public with the aim of agitating for real and significant commitments required to make these changes.

Contact: Riddhima Sethi (CEEW) - [email protected] / [email protected]

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Complete list of CCAG members

  • Sir David King (Chair), Cambridge University – focus on alerting governments and institutions around the world to the dangers of the climate crisis and urgent need for climate repair
  • Dr Robert W. Corell, US Global Environment Technology Foundation – particular interest in global and regional climate change and the link between science and public policy
  • Professor Qi Ye, Hong Kong University Science and Technology and Tsinghua University China – expert on China’s environmental policy with a focus on climate change, environment, energy, natural resources and urbanisation
  • Dr Klaus Lackner, Arizone State University – research interests include closing the carbon cycle by capturing carbon dioxide from the air, carbon sequestration, carbon foot-printing, innovative energy and energy and environmental policy
  • Professor Mercedes Bustamante, University of Brasilia – recognised for contributions to the ecological knowledge of threatened tropical ecosystems and their interactions with human-induced changes
  • Professor Lavanya Rajamani, Oxford University – specialist in the field of international environmental and climate change law
  • Dr Arunabha Ghosh, Council on Energy, Environment and Water – expert in public policy and climate change advisor to governments, industry, civil society and international organisations around the world
  • Dr Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency – expert and significant contributor to international policy debate on energy and climate change
  • Professor Dr Johan Rockström, Potsdam University – specialises in environmental science with an emphasis on water resources and global sustainability
  • Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh, University of Bath – particular interest in perceptions and behaviours in relation to climate change, energy and transport
  • Professor Nerilie Abram, Australian National University – research expertise covering climate change impacts, from tropical oceans to Antarctica
  • Dr Tero Mustonen, Snowchange Cooperative – specialises in Arctic biodiversity and impacts to Indigenous and local communities and nomadic societies of the Arctic
  • Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, University of Cambridge – expert on energy, climate and innovation policy, the drivers of technological change and policy evaluation
  •  Professor Mark Maslin, University College London – particular expertise in understanding the Anthropocene and how it relates to the major challenges facing humanity in the 21st century