Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele
“Ever since I was a student, I had a strong interest in both natural sciences and societal issues, with a passion for knowledge sharing and sustainable development. I received my Ph.D. from the Belgian university UCLouvain (1986, with highest honours), based on work done at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research. After my military service in the Belgian Navy, I continued researching climate change and authored papers on the modelling of sea ice, paleoclimates, the climate of the 20th and 21st centuries, regional climate change in Europe, Greenland and Africa, the ethical issues associated with responsibility for climate change, sustainable development, adaptation to climate change, mitigation of climate change, and energy provision.”
“I also worked with economists on aspects of climate stabilisation and climate negotiations, and published a report on the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies in the Belgian development cooperation. I taught climatology, climate modelling, mathematical geography and environmental and sustainable development at UCLouvain, where I co-directed the interdisciplinary Master programme in Science and Management in Environment and Sustainable development. I now co-direct the ‘Plateforme wallonne pour le GIEC' and the Belgian government has appointed me to the High Committee for a Just Transition. Fascinated by all cultures, I have travelled extensively and I am deeply conscious of development issues. I love nature and mountains, astronomy, photography, and improving the very same world that my experience and strength can serve. I am strongly supported by my wife and our three sons in my ambition to serve the IPCC community by becoming its Chair.”