STRUCTURE

How does the IPCC work?

The IPCC is a huge and yet very tiny organization. Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC on a voluntary basis as authors, contributors and reviewers. None of them is paid by the IPCC. The work of the IPCC is guided by a set of principles and procedures.
 
Their work is supported by a central IPCC Secretariat, whose role is to plan, coordinate and oversee all IPCC activities. The IPCC has a core staff of 12 officials.
 
The IPCC is currently organized in 3 Working Groups and a Task Force. They are assisted by Technical Support Units (TSU), which are hosted and financially supported by the Government of the developed country co-chair of that Working Group/Task Force. Working Group I deals with "The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change", Working Group II with "Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" and Working Group III with "Mitigation of Climate Change". Working Groups also meet at the Plenary at the level of Representatives of Governments. The main objective of the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories is to develop and refine a methodology for the calculation and reporting of national GHG emissions and removals.
 
In addition to the Working Groups and Task Force, further Task Groups and Steering Groups may be established for a limited or longer duration to consider a specific topic or question.
 
In the year 2010 the IPCC Chair and the Secretary General of the UN have asked the InterAcademy Council to carry out a review of the IPCC processes and procedures. The IPCC has responded to the recommendations made in the IAC report by a number of changes in its governance structure and procedures, agreed at the 32^nd, 33^rd and 34^th Session.

The Panel and the Plenary Sessions

The Panel meets in Plenary Sessions at the level of Government Representatives for all member countries.  It meets approximately once a year at the plenary level. These Sessions are attended by hundreds of officials and experts from relevant Ministries, Agencies and Research Institutions from Member countries and from observer organizations. Major decisions are taken by the Panel during the Plenary Session. For example,

1. the election of the IPCC Chair, IPCC Bureau and the Task Force Bureau;
2. the structure and mandate of IPCC Working Groups and Task Forces
3. IPCC Principles and Procedures,
4. the work-plan of the IPCC
5. Budget
6. Scope and outline of IPCC reports
7. Approval, Adoption and Acceptance of reports.

Each IPCC Member country has a Focal-point which has been identified by the relevant authorities in the country. In case no focal point has been identified, all correspondence is directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the list of IPCC Focal-Points, please see the following document (PDF)

The IPCC Bureau

Current Bureau  Previous Bureau (2002-2008)

The IPCC Bureau comprises the IPCC Chair, the IPCC Vice-Chairs, the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Working Groups and the Co-Chairs of the Task Force. The IPCC Bureau is chaired by the IPCC Chair. Members of the Bureau should have appropriate scientific and technical qualifications and experience relevant to the work of the Bureau, as defined by the Panel. There are presently 31 members elected by the Panel during a Plenary Session, following the procedures laid down in Appendix C of the Principles Governing the IPCC Work. The Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories has its own Task Forcer Bureau (TFB) composed of 12 Members. The TFB Co-Chairs are members of the IPCC Bureau.
 
Members of the Bureau provide scientific and technical support to the Chair of the IPCC and the Co-Chairs of the Working Groups and TFI in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Bureau. At its 33^rd Session, the IPCC agreed on Terms of Reference of the Bureau and their roles, responsibilities and qualifications of Bureau members.
 
The Panel at its 33rd Session decided on a limited term of office for the IPCC Chair and Working Group and Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Co-Chairs and IPCC Vice Chairs that shall be applied for the next and subsequent terms. This change will be reflected in a revised version of the Election procedures currently under preparation.
 
The Bureau of the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFB) oversees the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme.

Executive Committee

In response to recommendations made by the IAC the Panel decided to establish an Executive Committee with the aim to strengthen and facilitate timely and effective implementation of the IPCC Programme of Work, Strengthen coordination between Working Groups and Task Forces and to address urgent issues that require prompt attention by the IPCC between Panel sessions.
 
Terms of reference, composition and mode of operation of the Executive Committee are described here.

The Authors

Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors are selected by the relevant Working Group/Task Force Bureau, under general guidance provided by the Session of the Working Group or, in case of reports prepared by the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, the Panel, from those experts cited in the lists provided by governments and participating organizations, and other experts as appropriate, known through their publications and works. None of them is paid by the IPCC.
 
The composition of the group of Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors for a chapter, a report or its summary shall aim to reflect a range of scientific, technical and socio-economic views and expertise; geographical representation; a mixture of experts with and without previous experience in IPCC; and gender balance.
 
The Coordinating Lead Authors (CLAs) coordinate the content of the chapter they are responsible for. There are usually two CLAs per chapter, one from a developing country and one from a developed one. The Lead Authors (LAs) work in teams to produce the content of the chapter. Contributing Authors (CAs) provide more technical information on specific subjects covered by the chapter.