Prof Chris Stokes to Share Cryosphere Research at COP31

Professor Chris Stokes's research focuses on understanding how glaciers and ice sheets respond to climate change and the implications for global sea levels. In recent years, his work has examined the sensitivity of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to specific temperature targets, including those set out in the Paris Agreement, and the consequences of temperature overshoot. This research has helped improve understanding of how continued warming could increase the risk of long-term and potentially irreversible sea-level rise.

At COP31, Professor Stokes will contribute to discussions on the increasing threat of rapid and irreversible sea-level rise from glaciers and ice sheets, while highlighting the importance of minimising both the peak and duration of temperature overshoot, a topic which is likely to be the focus of many of the negotiations. 

Much of his work is undertaken in partnership with the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), a network of senior policy experts and researchers working with governments and international organisations to preserve as much of the Earth's cryosphere as possible. ICCI also serves as the Secretariat to the 25-nation Ambition on Melting Ice (AMI) High-Level Group and works with organisations including UNEP, UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization to ensure that cryosphere science informs climate policy and decision-making. 

Explaining his reasons for attending COP31, Professor Stokes said:

"I'm attending COP31 to share some of the latest science on the increasing threat of rapid and irreversible sea level rise from glaciers and ice sheets and the need to minimise the peak and duration of temperature overshoot." 

Professor Stokes is expected to participate in a number of events organised through ICCI's Cryosphere Pavilion, held in partnership with Iceland.

On 14 November, he will convene and speak at a side event entitled The Wilkes Subglacial Basin: One of Antarctica's Least Understood Regions but a Potential Source of Multi-Metre Sea-Level Rise. The session will explore the significance of this under-researched region of Antarctica and its implications for future sea-level rise under different warming levels.

On 16 November, he will convene and speak at a further side event, Recent and Future Loss of Low Latitude and Tropical Glaciers, examining the impacts of climate change on glacier systems that are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, including those in the host nation, Türkiye. 

Professor Stokes is also expected to contribute to discussions surrounding the launch of two major international reports released prior to COP31, which he contributed to:

• UNEP/ICCI Overshoot and Cryosphere Report [await confirmation on whether we can mention this]
• ICCI State of the Cryosphere Report

In addition to these scheduled activities, he will follow negotiations relating to Research and Systematic Observation (RSO) and engage with researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders throughout the conference.

Durham University at COP31

Professor Stokes is one of several Durham University academics attending COP31 to contribute expertise across climate science, policy, law, governance and sustainable development.  

His participation reflects Durham's commitment to producing research that informs global climate action and supports evidence-based decision-making on some of the most pressing challenges facing society.