University academic appointed Lead Author of UN climate change report

Dr Cho Kwong Charlie Lam will contribute to the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report on adapting cities and infrastructure to climate change
Cho Kwong Charlie Lam, Lecturer in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Plymouth
A University of Plymouth academic has been appointed among the lead authors of an influential global report examining the increasing effects of climate change.
Dr Cho Kwong Charlie Lam , Lecturer in Environmental Intelligence and leader of the MSc Data Science and Environmental Intelligence programme, will be part of Working Group II for the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
From more than 3,700 nominations worldwide, he is among just 664 experts – and one of only 31 from the UK – selected for the role. Lead Authors are responsible for synthesising the latest global research and shaping key chapters of the report.
Dr Lam will work on Chapter 18 of the report, which is centred around the adaptation of human settlements, infrastructure and industry systems, and will explore how cities and societies can adapt to the increasing challenges of climate change.
This aligns with Dr Lam’s expertise, which spans climate science, social science, and human health and has a particular focus on the impact of climate change, urban design and vegetation on people’s physical and psychological health.
His appointment also reinforces the University’s commitment to sustainability and global research excellence, and places it within a small, influential group shaping the scientific foundation of international climate action.

It is an honour to serve as a Lead Author for the IPCC.

This is both a recognition of my research in urban climate adaptation and an opportunity to contribute to the global scientific community. Climate change adaptation is a vital issue that affects the fate of human society. I look forward to working with colleagues worldwide to inform evidence-based policies that support urgent actions on climate change.

Cho Kwong Charlie LamDr Cho Kwong Charlie Lam
Lecturer in Environmental Intelligence

Dr Lam will attend the first author meeting connected to the assessment in Paris this December, with the Seventh Assessment Report being published in 2028. It will subsequently inform climate policies and adaptation strategies worldwide.
The IPCC is the UN body that assesses global climate science, and its reports carry global significance as they influence the national and international climate policies of the 195 countries around the world.
The First Assessment Report was produced in 1990 and subsequent documents have reflected the changing state and awareness of climate change, leading to global agreements including The Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, and the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
The Sixth Assessment Report was published in 2022 and also had a University of Plymouth connection with Professor Camille Parmesan, then a Professor in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences, serving as a Coordinating Lead Author.
 
Image credit: Carey Marks

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