IPCC reports
The main activity of the IPCC is to provide at regular intervals Assessment Reports
of the state of knowledge on climate change. The latest one is "Climate Change 2007",
the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.
The IPCC produces also Special Reports; Methodology
Reports; Technical Papers; and
Supporting Material, often in
response to requests from the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, or from
other environmental Conventions.
The preparation of all IPCC reports and publications follows strict procedures agreed by the Panel.
The work is guided by the IPCC Chair and the Working Group and Task Force Co-chairs. Hundreds of experts from all over the world contribute to the preparation of IPCC
reports as authors, contributors and reviewers. 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. Review by governments and experts is also an essential element of the preparation of IPCC reports.
A schematic description of the IPCC process applicable to Assessment Reports, Special Reports and Methodology Reports is provided below. Simplified procedures apply to Technical
Papers. Supporting material is prepared to support the assessment process and is therefore not IPCC assessed or approved material. For more information on the IPCC procedures
and relevant decisions taken by the Panel at the 33rd Session see procedures page.
How the IPCC reports can be obtained
A number of IPCC reports - in particular the Assessments Reports - are published commercially and can be
obtained from the publishers or leading book shops. Some full reports and the summaries of many reports
are translated into the official UN languages. Most IPCC Reports published since 1997, including
non-English versions, are available online on this website and on CD-ROMs. Translations into some non UN
languages are also made available on this website.
Hard copies of the Summaries for Policymakers, Technical Summaries, Synthesis Reports and Technical Papers
in English and in other UN languages, and CD-ROMs of the full reports, can be obtained free of
charge from the IPCC Secretariat. A limited number
of hard copies of the full reports are also available on request from the IPCC Secretariat for developing
countries and countries with economies in transition. Methodology Reports and Supporting Material can be
obtained from the IPCC Secretariat or a Technical Support Unit as indicated.
For more information on copyright permission please go to Home - Copyright.
Assessment Reports
In accordance with its mandate and as reaffirmed in various decisions by the Panel, the IPCC prepares
at regular intervals comprehensive Assessment Reports of
scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of human induced climate
change, potential impacts of climate change and options for mitigation and adaptation. Assessment Reports are normally published in several volumes, one
for each of the Working Groups of the IPCC and, subject to the decision by the Panel, a Synthesis Report. Each of the Working Group volumes
is composed of individual chapters, an optional Technical Summary and a Summary for Policymakers. Synthesis
Reports synthesize materials contained within the Assessment Reports, eventually integrating them with
information coming from the Special Reports as well. They are written in a non-technical style suitable for
policymakers. They are composed of a longer report and a Summary for Policymakers.
Four Assessment Reports have been completed in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007. All completed Assessment Reports are available on this
website. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) is scheduled for completion in 2013/14.
Special Reports
Special Reports have been prepared on topics such as aviation, regional impacts of climate change,
technology transfer, emissions scenarios, land use, land use change and forestry, carbon dioxide
capture and storage and on the relationship between safeguarding the ozone layer and the global
climate system. They are subject to the same writing, review and approval process as Assessment
Reports.
The IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) has been finalized (more information). The IPCC
will release another Special Report on "Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation" in November 2011.
The reports' Summaries for Policymakers
Each IPCC Assessment and Special Report has a Summary for Policymakers (SPM) which is widely distributed.
The SPM text is subject to line by line discussions and approval at a Plenary Session. The SPM has to be
consistent with the factual material contained in the full report. Lead Authors of the report participate
in the Session to provide explanations and clarifications and assist to ensure that consistency between
the Summary for Policymakers and the full report is achieved. Summaries for policymakers are available in the official UN languages.
Methodology Reports
Methodology Reports provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.
They are aimed to meet the inventory reporting requirements of Parties to the UNFCCC. Recently the
IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories have been published.
Technical Papers
Technical Papers are prepared on topics for which
an objective international scientific/technical perspective is essential. They are based on material already
in the IPCC Assessment Reports and Special Reports and their preparation follows accelerated procedures.
The latest Technical Paper entitled "Climate Change and Water" and was released
in 2008.
Supporting Material
Supporting material consists of published reports and proceedings of IPCC workshops
and expert meetings and other material, including databases and software, commissioned
in support of the IPCC assessment and methodology development process. Supporting
material is not subject to formal IPCC review processes.
Workshops and Expert Meetings may be held to support the IPCC assessment process,
to scope an IPCC Report or to advise the Panel e.g. on whether to prepare a Special
Report. The IPCC may also co-sponsor workshops if its activity will be useful to the
work of the IPCC. Proceedings are normally published as IPCC supporting material.
For some IPCC expert meetings or scoping meetings only summary reports are prepared,
which can be found under meetings and documentation.
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