This closed briefing will brief parliamentarians on the policy implications at all levels arising from the latest science focused on cryosphere (snow and ice) regions including climate negotiations at COP 26.

Join us to hear from leading researchers and policy experts and participate in a live Q&A.

Insufficient emissions reductions could lead to warming scenarios beyond 1.5°C that trigger global changes and feedbacks in the cryosphere that may be rapid and to some degree irreversible (several tens of thousands of years). The most significant dynamics include sea-level rise from polar ice sheets; polar ocean acidification; mountain glacier loss; permafrost thaw and related CO2/methane emissions; and, Arctic sea ice loss.

All these changes will impose dramatic impacts on the global climate system, as well as local people and ecosystems. The near-immediate cryosphere response as temperatures rise beyond 1.5°C and CO2 passes 450ppm, underscores the urgency of sharp emissions reductions by 2030 as the IPCC has outlined.

With even temporary overshoot above 1.5°C, researchers believe the cryosphere system is close to changes that will persist for many generations, but which may still be averted with enough reductions and forward planning.

Who can join

This briefing is mainly open to parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. While anyone can register their interest for the closed briefings and ensure they receive a summary of the event after its completion, only those registered with a @parliament.uk email address will be invited to attend on the day.

We can also extend invitations to key government officials and civil servants. If you belong to these later groups please register for this event and email us at postevents@parliament.uk to discusss your attendance.

Speakers

Professor Julie Brigham-Grette, UMass-Amherst and Chair, U.S. Polar Research Board (Ice Sheets/SLR)

Dr Gustaf Hugelius, Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University (Permafrost)

Dr Heidi Sevestre, University Centre in Svalbard (Mountain Glaciers and Snow)

Dr Helen Findlay, PML (Polar and High Latitude Oceans)

Professor Julienne Stroeve, University College London/University of Manitoba/NSIDC (Sea Ice)

Dr Joeri Rogelj, Imperial College London (SR1.5 Emissions Pathways)

Beth Viola, Holland and Knight, Clinton NSC and Gore/Obama climate advisor, U.S. Transition/Climate Change

Pam Pearson, former U.S. climate negotiator and Director, ICCI

Speaker TBC from the Cabinet Office

FAQs

How can I contact the organiser?

You can contact POST at postevents@parliament.uk. Please advise us of any particular requirements you may have, or of anything we can do to make this event accessible to you.

What will you do with my data?

Personal data collected by the UK Parliament for this event, facilitate entry and evaluation. A full list of all attendees, their occupation, organisation and contact details will be provided during the event, but you will be given the option to opt out. To find out more about how we handle personal data, please see our privacy policy.