[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35121-35122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14908]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7065]


 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report Review

ACTION: The United States Global Change Research and Climate Change 
Technology Programs request expert review of the Special Report on 
Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) of the 
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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SUMMARY: The IPCC was established as an intergovernmental body under 
the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the 
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988. In accordance with its 
mandate and as reaffirmed in various decisions by the Panel, the major 
activity of the IPCC is to prepare comprehensive and up-to-date 
assessments of policy-relevant scientific, technical, and socio-
economic information for understanding the scientific basis of climate 
change, potential impacts, and options for mitigation and adaptation. 
More information about the IPCC can be found at http://www.ipcc.ch.
    The IPCC develops a comprehensive assessment spanning all the above 
topics approximately every six years. In addition to these 
comprehensive assessments, the IPCC periodically develops Special 
Reports on specific topics. Preparation of Special Reports follows the 
same procedures as for the Assessment Reports. Governments develop and 
approve plans for reports, and nominate scientists and experts as lead 
authors and reviewers. Authors prepare the reports, which go through 
several stages of review, following which they are accepted by member 
governments at a session of the IPCC. Member governments also approve 
the executive summaries of the reports (known as a ``summary for policy 
makers'') in detail at the time that they accept the overall report. 
Principles and procedures for the IPCC and its preparation of reports 
can be found at the following Web sites (http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/ipcc-principles/ipcc-principles.pdf; http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization_procedures.htm).
    In April 2008, the IPCC approved the development of a Special 
Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation 
(SRREN). The SRREN is being developed under the leadership of the IPCC 
Working Group III. This Special Report aims to provide a better 
understanding and broader information on the mitigation potential of 
renewable energy sources. More information on the report can be found 
at: http://www.ipcc-wg3.de/publications/special-reports.
    All IPCC reports go through two broad reviews: A ``first-order 
draft'' for experts, and a ``second-order draft'' for experts and 
governments. The IPCC Secretariat has informed the U.S. Department of 
State that the second-order draft of the SRREN is available for expert 
and government review. The report is structured with technology 
chapters--bio-energy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, 
hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy--which feed into overarching 
chapters. A system integration chapter brings different aspects of 
energy demand and supply together. The report also considers the policy 
options, outcomes and conditions for effectiveness, and how accelerated 
deployment could be achieved in a sustainable manner. Capacity 
building, technology transfer and financing in different regions are 
also assessed.
    As part of the U.S. Government Review of the SRREN, the U.S. 
Government is soliciting comments from experts in relevant fields of 
expertise. The Global Change Research Program and Climate Change 
Technology Program Offices will coordinate collection of U.S. expert 
comments and the review of the report by panels of Federal scientists 
and program managers in order to develop a consolidated U.S. Government 
submission. Expert comments received within the comment period will be 
considered for inclusion in the U.S. Government submission. 
Instructions for review and submission of comments are available at 
http://www.globalchange.gov/srrenreview.
    To be considered for inclusion in the U.S. Government collation, 
comments must be received by midnight July 18th, 2010. Comments 
submitted for consideration as part of the U.S. Government Review 
should be reserved for that purpose, and not also sent to the IPCC 
Secretariat as a discrete set of expert comments. Comments should be 
submitted using the Web-based system at: http://www.globalchange.gov/srrenreview.

[[Page 35122]]

    For further information, please contact David Allen, U.S. Global 
Change Research Program, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20006 (http://www.climatescience.gov).

    Dated: June 16, 2010.
Trigg Talley,
Office Director, Office of Global Change, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-14908 Filed 6-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P