The BACC II Author Team Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin Introduction and Summary

Abstract

The Baltic Earth Assessment of Climate Change (BACC) in the Baltic Sea region is an effort to establish what scientifically legitimised knowledge about climate change and its impacts is available for the Baltic Sea catchment. Observed past and projected future changes in atmospheric, hydrological, and oceanographic conditions are assessed, as well as the observed and potential impacts on the natural and socio-economic environments. The BACC programme focuses purely on the science and does not draw conclusions about the political, economic, or management consequences of the scientific knowledge. This report (the BACC II assessment, the follow-up to the BACC I assessment in 2008) documents the consensus and dissensus on climate knowledge up to about 2012. More than 180 researchers contributed in various functions to this peer-reviewed assessment. The process was overseen by a scientific steering committee and coordinated by the International Baltic Earth Secretariat.