A leading Swiss climatologist is to co-chair one of the three working groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC), it was announced on Thursday.
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Thomas Stocker, head of the climate and environmental physics department of Bern University, has been named to the group, which studies the physical scientific aspects of climate change.
The group is to help prepare an assessment report due in 2013.
Environment Minister Moritz Leuenberger described Stocker’s election as “an honour for Switzerland” and a “recognition of the work on climate change conducted in our country and of the key role played by Switzerland in climate matters”.
Stocker was chosen at the IPCC plenary session held in Geneva from August 31 to September 1. The other co-chair of the working group is Professor Qin Dahe of China.
The secretariat of the IPCC is in Geneva, and a number of Swiss institutions work with the organisation. Over 50 Swiss scientists have contributed to IPCC reports.
The IPCC won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with US politician and climate activist Al Gore.
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