Panel on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Climate change is a very complex issue: policymakers need an objective source of information about the causes of climate change, its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences and the adaptation and mitigation options to respond to it. This is why the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the leading body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences. The information the IPCC provides with its reports is based on scientific evidence and reflects existing viewpoints within the scientific community. The comprehensiveness of the scientific content is achieved through contributions from experts in all regions of the world and all relevant disciplines including, where appropriately documented, industry literature and traditional practices, and a two stage review process by experts and governments illustrated below.

Because of its intergovernmental nature, the IPCC is able to provide scientific technical and socio-economic information in a policy-relevant but policy neutral way to decision makers. By endorsing IPCC reports, governments acknowledge the legitimacy of their scientific content.

Key Facts about the IPCC:

• The governments: the IPCC is open to all member countries of WMO and UNEP. Governments participate in plenary Sessions of the IPCC where main decisions about the IPCC work program are taken and reports are accepted, adopted and approved. They also participate in the review of IPCC Reports.
• Hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC as authors, contributors and reviewers.
• As a United Nations body, the IPCC work aims at the promotion of the United Nations human development goals
• The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change.
• The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.
• Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• IPCC reports are neutral with respect to policy, although they need to deal objectively with policy relevant scientific, technical and socio economic factors. They should be aware of high scientific and technical standards, and aim to reflect a range of views, expertise and wide geographical coverage.

More Information:

IPCC Reports 

IPCC Press Information

IPCC Home Page

Source: United Nations Environmental Program, 2008.