It is with great sadness that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has learnt of the death of Isabelle Niang-Diop, who contributed to several IPCC assessments from the Third Assessment Report onwards.
Isabelle Niang-Diop was a Coordinating Lead Author of the Africa chapter and Lead Author of the Technical Summary of the Working II contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report and Fourth Assessment Report. On the Third Assessment Report she served as a Review Editor of the Africa Chapter of the Working Group II contribution.
She will be greatly missed by the IPCC and entire scientific community from Africa and beyond.
“Isabelle was among the leading African scientists who were instrumental in advancing a better understanding of adaptation to climate change in Africa. She was a rigorous, highly respected and dedicated scientist. I had the privilege to work closely with her and this is a big loss for our community” said IPCC Vice-Chair Youba Sokona.
START International, a nonprofit established to strengthen capacities for global environmental change science in Africa and Asia, has started a tribute page on their Facebook account in her honour. Isabelle Niang-Diop contributed to START International’s work in Africa through her involvement in its Assessments of Impact and Adaptation to Climate Change programme.