The FINANCIAL — Aston graduate Dr Ismail El Gizouli has been named as acting Chair of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), according to Aston University.
As head of the IPCC, the world’s leading authority on climate change, Dr El Gizouli, will play a key role in the review of global environmental issues.
He will direct the IPCC in its independent review and assessment of the latest scientific, socio-economic and technical information to ensure that the public has a clear view and understanding of issues that relate directly to climate change.
The IPCC is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change, established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). IPCC Committees review the work of thousands of scientists from all over the world, synthesising this into a climate change ‘assessment report’ every five to seven years.
Dr El Gizouli takes charge of the organisation shortly after the publication of its latest report, which warns that climate change will cause ‘severe, widespread and irreversible impacts’ to people and the natural world unless carbon emissions are cut sharply and rapidly.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia King, a member of the influential Committee on Climate Change and author of The King Review, said: “I think I speak for everyone at Aston when I say how delighted and proud we are to see one of our alumni in such a critical global role. To lead the IPCC is an amazing achievement. We wish Dr El Gizouli all the best in his challenging and hugely important new role.”
Dr El Gizouli graduated from Aston with an MSc in Operations Research and Statistics, following a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Khartoum in Sudan.
During his career to date he has held a variety of government positions in fields such as industry and energy planning, including Director of the National Energy Administration in the Sudan Ministry of Industry. He was Vice-Chair of the IPCC before taking the Chair this week. He has published numerous papers and has contributed as Review Editor to IPCC reports. Dr El Gizouli succeeds the previous IPCC Chair Dr Rajendra K Pachauri.
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