UN's climate panel to extend sensitizing programs in developing countries

The UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will expand its outreach programs in developing countries where, the organization said, communities are bearing the brunt of rising global temperatures, an official said Friday.

Ismail El Gizouli, IPCC acting Chair, said dissemination of scientific findings will be scaled up in developing world to boost climate change response.

"We have elaborate outreach plans for developing countries in the pipeline. The aim is to sensitize people on climate science and how it can be harnessed to inform mitigation and adaptation," Gizouli said during the closing of a week-long IPCC summit held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Delegates endorsed a raft of new recommendations to rejuvenate climate science and enhance its appreciation among decision makers and grassroots communities.

Gizouli said IPCC will expand the representation of African and Asian countries in its bureau.

"We agreed to promote diversity, fairness and inclusion to ensure climate science percolate to the wider society. Likewise, delegates agreed that IPCC reports should be released frequently," he told reporters.

He said IPCC will broaden the participation of experts from developing world to review and disseminate scientific findings.

"Bureau members will engage experts from developing countries in technical support units to act as authors and reviewers. We are exploring training and capacity building for young scientists in developing countries," said Gizouli. Endi