IPCC WGII AR5 Chapter 28 SECOND-ORDER DRAFT From From To To # ID Ch Comment Response Page Line Page Line 1 56831 28 0 0 0 0 This chapter focuses slightly more on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems then on marine ones. If the marine ecosystem Authors strive to achieve the balance between different is concerned the authors focus on the shelf or possibly upper slope system, but not on what is known of deep-sea systems. natural and human systems to address essentially new The benthos (the most heterogeneous marine ecosystem) is not referred to in detail compared to the pelagic environment. findings in the recent (since 2007) publications under 25 page (Angelika Dr. Brandt, University of Hamburg) limit. Apparently, under such constrains not all matters could be addressed with the same and adequate level of detail. 2 57997 28 0 0 0 0 I suggest blending this into previous section on Infrastructure. This is all infrastructure. (Jennifer Francis, Rutgers University) Comment seems to have no clear reference, but has been noted 3 58000 28 0 0 0 0 It seems there should be some discussion of projected security needs added to this section. (Jennifer Francis, Rutgers Projected security needs are not included due to insufficient University) scientific literature linking this to climate change 4 58892 28 0 0 0 0 The chapter has given many interesting results and thoughts. I realize that all activity and life forms of Ch. 28-Polar regions This is not correct. One example is the polar bears, which are are not really in the “polar regions”, but rather in a fringe around the polar regions, i.e. the lower latitudes of the Arctic and in danger because of the habitat loss. There are other Antarctic. I realize that I have had an oversimplified view of poleward displacement of species as a result of climate change examples as well. We changed the reference to refer to before I read this chapter. My general view has earlier been that poleward displacement of species should be accompanied diversity in fish species rather than all species. For the by species extinctions at the extremes, i.e. species extinctions at the extreme warm end for the warmest-adapted species in Antarctic, both issues are covered where appropriate the tropics, and species extinctions at the extreme cold end for the coldest-adapted species in polar regions. This view, I think, still holds for the tropics, but it is not correct for the polar regions, simply because of the extreme aridness in polar regions. In fact, it seems that there are hardly species at all near the poles, let’s say north and south of 80-85 degrees. This means that there will be no species extinctions at all in polar regions, only poleward displacement of species and species invasion of the regions. Am I right? If so, it would be interesting to give this consideration a couple of sentences in your chapter. (Svein Sundby, Institute of Marine Research) 5 58893 28 0 0 0 0 In the varous parts of the chapter there seems to be some degree of opposing views about how indigenous people will be The author team appreciates this thoughtful comment. The able to handle climate change. Some places it seem to be the view that they are particularly vulnerable to climate change, seemingly opposing view reflects differences in vulnerability other places they seem to be quite robust to climate change (Svein Sundby, Institute of Marine Research) depending on whether we are looking at the past, current or future: Indigenous peoples have had a remarkable ability to adapt in the past, but questions are being raised about vulnerability and adaptability for the future. The ability of indigenous peoples to maintain traditional livelihoods is increasingly being threatened by the rate of climate change. 6 60219 28 0 0 0 0 This Chapter is well written and easy to read. (AUSTRALIA) Acknowledged with appreciation 7 60220 28 0 0 0 0 More detail on the research and data gaps, and the priorities for significantly reducing uncertainty, is required in order to The Research and data gaps section has been significantly provide clear guidance to governments on what needs to be done in the future. (AUSTRALIA) revised with more detail on research gaps. 8 60221 28 0 0 0 0 A more cohesive story of the impacts of climate change on these regions needs to be developed in Chapter 28. At present, Authors have strict page limits, and the general policy of IPCC much of the detail of change in the physical environment and in biota is referenced to other chapters and is not given any is to make extensive use of cross referencing. This is why it is detail or understanding in this chapter. In the other chapters, the detail is insufficient to understand the change and how not always possible to tell the "whole story" at one place. that might be important to the region. A coherent, but still concise, narrative needs to be developed that can be used by Major edits were conducted to address this issue. regional managers and governments. (AUSTRALIA) 9 60222 28 0 0 0 0 Greater balance is needed between the two polar regions in detailing the impacts of climate change on biota, particularly The differences and similarities between the two polar regions marine mammals and birds; more consideration should be given to explaining how the responses of biota to climate change were not specifically addressed in this assessment report, might be different or similar between the poles. (AUSTRALIA) partly because they have been analyzed in the previous two IPCC reports, but also due to strict page limits. 10 60446 28 0 0 0 0 Correct citation of SWIPA is: AMAP 2011. Snow, Ice, Water and Permafrsot in the Arctic (SWIPA); Climate Change and the Reference has been corrected Cryosphere. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Oslo, Norway. Xii+538 pp. Reference in text should be SWIPA (AMAP, 2011). (DENMARK) 11 60462 28 0 0 0 0 Figures on undiscovered/undeveloped oil and gas resources in the Arctic mentioned in the chapter are inconsistent. Figures on oil and gas resources have been deleted (DENMARK) Government and Expert Review Page 1 of 62 28 March - 24 May 2013 IPCC WGII AR5 Chapter 28 SECOND-ORDER DRAFT From From To To # ID Ch Comment Response Page Line Page Line 12 60466 28 0 0 0 0 Recognizing the importance of climate change impacts on traditional livelihood and indigenous peoples and communities in This is acknowledged as a gap due to relatively small number the Arctic, it is disappointing that the chapter does not attempt to also comprehensively addresss climate effect concerns of studies addressing the problem. We identify it as further and adaptation options for non-traditional indigenous communities/societies and for non-indigenous populations and research target in the "Research gaps" section of the chapter inhabitants of the Arctic such as for instance the Faroese and the Icelandic populations. Given the rate of change in the Arctic and the many recognized second and higher order effects of climate change it is also somewhat surprising the the chapter does not attempt to address cumulative effects of climate change and the effects on human living conditions. (DENMARK) 13 62971 28 0 0 0 0 The chapter is well written but the organization is somewhat difficult. I don't find the text completely consistent with the The text has been edited and efforts have been made to titles of the sub chapters 28.2 Observed changes and Vulnerability under Multiple Stressors and 28.3 Key projected impacts address the inconsistency. and Vulnerabilities under Different Climate Pathways. More specifically, both sub chapters have information about observed changes and possible future changes. I choosen just one example (there are many): 28.2.2.1.1 Overview of Arctic marine plankton and fish is supposed to deal with observed changes and vulnability, but still in that text (p.13, line26-27) we find "there is low confidence that climate change will reduce the abundance of C. marshallae in the Bering Sea". This is a projected impact and should be in chap 28.3. In chap. 28.3 on the other hand, which is suppose to deal with projected impacts, we find (p.42, line 36-37) information about observed changes. Thus it is hard to see the difference between sub chapters 28.2 and 28.3 as it is written now. (Randi Ingvaldsen, Institute of Marine Research) 14 63117 28 0 0 0 0 The chapter could be better organized as there is much repetition. Given that the chapter should focus on both impacts and Efforts have been made to better balance the impact and adaptation, there is a lack of balance with respect to these two aspects (i.e. much more on impacts compared to adaptation parts of the text to the extent possible using adaptation). Progress has been made since TAR with respect to adaptation. In particular, there is greater acknowledgement available publications. Except for the infrastructure on that climate change needs to be considered in design of northern infrastructure and there is much effort to develop best permafrost, few adaptation practices have been developed practices etc. (certainly the case for Canada). This advance was highlighted in the permafrost chapter of SWIPA but does and published for the polar regions. not come out clearly in this chapter (and should probably be a key finding in executive summary etc). (Sharon Smith, Geological Survey of Canada) 15 63118 28 0 0 0 0 Regarding chapter organization - It is unclear why information in section 28.2.6.1 on Traditional Knowledge is not presented Text has been restructured and repetitions in material on with information in sections 28.2.1 - 28.2.5 as these sections also provide evidence of observed changes in natural and Traditional Knowledge have been addressed human systems.