IPCC

IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Public domain · source
Name	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Abbreviation	IPCC
Formation	1988
Type	Scientific body
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Parent organizations	World Meteorological Organization; United Nations Environment Programme

IPCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an international scientific body established to assess evidence on climate change and inform policy through authoritative assessments. It synthesizes research from scientists associated with institutions such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, European Space Agency, Met Office, CSIRO, Max Planck Society, and Chinese Academy of Sciences to advise bodies including the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Leading contributors have come from universities and institutes like Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Imperial College London, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Overview

The panel produces comprehensive assessments that integrate findings from researchers affiliated with Columbia University, Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, ETH Zurich, University of Tokyo, Australian National University, Sorbonne University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Indian Institute of Science, and University of Cape Town. Its assessments inform negotiations at conferences such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, meetings of the G7, the G20, and sessions of the World Economic Forum. Reports cite observational programs by Argo (oceanography system), Global Atmosphere Watch, Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project, and satellite missions like Landsat and GRACE. The panel’s work is used by agencies including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Commission, NASA, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

History and Development

Established in 1988 following initiatives by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, the body’s formation followed scientific syntheses presented at workshops involving researchers from Met Office Hadley Centre, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, NCAR, Japan Meteorological Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Brazilian National Institute for Space Research. Early milestones included assessments that influenced the negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and protocols like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Chairs and authors have included figures associated with University of Bern, University of Washington, University of Exeter, Stockholm Environment Institute, and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

Structure and Membership

The organization is governed by a plenary composed of representatives from member states and observer organizations such as the European Union, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its working apparatus involves coordinating lead authors from institutions like National Center for Atmospheric Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. National delegations include scientists nominated by ministries and academies such as the Royal Society, National Academy of Sciences (United States), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, and Academia Europaea. Regional participation spans entities like the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Islands Forum, Organization of American States, and Arab League.

Assessment Reports and Special Reports

Major assessment reports have been published in cycles (First through Sixth Assessments) that mobilized contributors from Nature Research, Science (journal), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and reports citing data from HadCRUT, Global Historical Climatology Network, IPSL climate model, and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Special reports addressed themes including Global Warming of 1.5 °C, land use and forestry, ocean and cryosphere, and climate change and cities, drawing on expertise from International Energy Agency, International Renewable Energy Agency, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Assessment cycles influenced policy instruments such as nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and adaptation planning used by Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.

Methodology and Working Groups

Analytical methods combine literature review, model intercomparison, and uncertainty analysis applied by Working Group I (physical science basis), Working Group II (impacts, adaptation, vulnerability), and Working Group III (mitigation) with inputs from the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Methods reference climate models developed by centers including Met Office Hadley Centre, GFDL, ECMWF, CNRM, BCC (climate model), and evaluation frameworks from Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Assessment procedures include multi-stage drafting, expert review by contributors from Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, and approval sessions involving delegations from United States, China, India, European Union member states, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia.

Impact, Criticism, and Controversies

The panel’s conclusions have influenced international law and policy debates at venues like the International Court of Justice advisory proceedings and national legislatures in United Kingdom, United States Congress, European Parliament, Parliament of India, and Chinese National People's Congress. Criticisms have come from scholars and media outlets including cases involving the so-called “hockey stick” controversy debated in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and assessments of paleoclimate reconstructions by researchers from University of Virginia and Georgetown University. Other controversies involved procedural errors corrected after scrutiny by institutions such as Royal Society, National Research Council (US), and Academia Sinica. Debates continue over topics like carbon budgets, climate sensitivity, aerosol forcing, and attribution studies involving teams at Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Duke University, Brown University, and University of Melbourne.

Category:Climate change organizations