Exploring the linkages between climate change and sustainable development:A challenge for transdisciplinary research

In recent years, both sustainable development and climate change have becom e well known worldwide, and the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Clim ate Change (IPCC) has also focused on the nexus of these two key topics. Th e IPCC third assessment report confirms that global mean temperatures will rise 1.5-6 degrees Celsius during the next century. Furthermore, climate ch ange will significantly affect the economic, social, and environmental dime nsions of sustainable development, as well as key issues like poverty and e quity. Therefore, the IPCC is seeking answers to important questions: how f uture development patterns will affect climate change; how climate change i mpacts, adaptation, and mitigation will affect future sustainable developme nt prospects; and how climate change responses might be better integrated i nto emerging sustainable development strategies. Some key lessons have emerged from these efforts. The IPCC intellectual com munity has already proved to be quite cohesive and resilient in the face of determined attacks by powerful and well-financed "anti-climate change" lob bies. While addressing sustainable development issues, adaptation and learn ing within the IPCC have further strengthened the network. First, fresh ide as have been brought in to catalyze change. Transdisciplinary approaches ar e essential to deal with large-scale, long-term, complex, and interlinked i ssues like sustainable development and climate change. Second, the discipli nary mix has continued to evolve to meet the challenge. However, crossing d isciplinary and cultural boundaries requires sound knowledge of one's own d iscipline (especially its limitations), open-mindedness, great patience, an d sincere effort on all sides. Third, IPCC internal processes have adjusted to facilitate beneficial changes, while limiting harmful dissension. E-mai l has proved to be a powerful, but potentially risky tool. How something is said could be as important as what is said, to ensure effective communicat ion. Despite some difficult moments, fair-mindedness and good will have pre vailed. The IPCC has been able to accommodate different ways of thinking ab out the problem, as well as new modes of communication, while reinforcing d esirable codes of conduct and behavioral norms.