The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 to provide comprehensive assessments of the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts and response strategies.
Since its inception in 1988 the IPCC has prepared five multi-volume assessment reports, which can be accessed under Publications. The IPCC and former US Vice-President Al Gore were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for their work on climate change. Note: Some links take the reader to English-language documents/pages where translations are not available.
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
In 2014, the IPCC finalized the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), which comprises three contributions on the physical science basis; impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and mitigation of climate change prepared by the IPCC’s three Working Groups, plus a Synthesis Report. The Working Group I contribution was accepted and approved in September 2013. The Working Groups II and III contributions were accepted and approved in March and April 2014 respectively, and the Synthesis Report was approved in November 2014. Compared to previous reports, AR5 puts greater emphasis on assessing the socio-economic aspects of climate change and implications for sustainable development, regional aspects, risk management and the framing of a response through both adaptation and mitigation.
CLIMATE CHANGE 2013 – The Physical Science Basis
Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects | Part B: Regional Aspects
Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Mitigation of Climate Change
Working Group III Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Synthesis Report
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More information on the AR5 can be found in the AR5 English page here.
IPCC Special Reports
Besides the Assessment Reports, the IPCC publishes Special Reports on specific 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 can be accessed under Publications.
The latest of these Special Reports were released in 2011:
Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN)
SRREN was approved and accepted at the 11th Session of Working Group III that took place on 5-8 May 2011 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)
SREX was approved and accepted at the first Joint Session of IPCC Working Group I and II that met on 14-17 November 2011, in Kampala, Uganda
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Methodology Reports
The IPCC also prepares methodologies and guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories through the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI). These help Parties to the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol to draw up national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks. The last major publication was the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
The TFI has produced two sets of additional guidance that were adopted and accepted by the IPCC at its 37th Session held on 14-18 October 2013 in Batumi, Georgia:
- the 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands, (in English) provides methodological guidance on lands with wet and drained soils, and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment
- the 2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol, (in English) provides Parties to the UNFCCC who report under the Kyoto Protocol with the additional guidance they need for its second commitment period.
These supplementary guidelines were prepared at the invitation of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice of the UNFCCC and Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC respectively.
For more information please see the TFI website (English).
The Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis
For more information visit the TGICA page (English).The Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA) facilitates the distribution and application of climate change related data and scenarios. TGICA oversees a Data Distribution Centre (DDC) that provides data sets, scenarios of climate change and other environmental and socio-economic conditions, and other materials (e.g. technical guidelines on the use of scenarios and fact sheets offering clarifying explanations/concise guidance on topical issues).
Other useful links in the English-language pages
For information about the various meetings that the IPCC organizes and documentation from these meetings, please see Meeting Documentation page.
For the full IPCC calendar of meetings and other important dates, please see the IPCC Calendar. For IPCC press releases and other communications and outreach materials please see News and Outreach. For presentations and speeches provided at various IPCC outreach events around the world, please see Presentations and Speeches. For information on the IPCC Scholarship Programme, please see IPCC Scholarship Programme.
What is the IPCC?
Note: Some links take the reader to English-language documents where translations are not available
The World Meteorological Organization Headquarters in Geneva. IPCC Secretariat is hosted by WMOThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. In the same year, the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC.
The IPCC is a scientific body. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. It is an intergovernmental body. It is open to all member countries of the United Nations and WMO. Currently 195 countries are members of the IPCC. The Panel meets at least once a year in plenary at the level of government representatives where the main decisions about the IPCC work programme are taken and Bureau Members, including the Chair, are elected. Governments participate also in the scoping of reports, nomination of authors, the review process and accept, adopt and approve reports at plenary sessions. Because of its scientific and intergovernmental nature, the IPCC embodies a unique opportunity to provide rigorous and balanced scientific information to decision-makers. By endorsing the IPCC reports, governments acknowledge the authority of their scientific content. The work of the organization is therefore policy-relevant and yet policy-neutral, never policy-prescriptive.
How the IPCC works
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 Panel takes major decisions at plenary sessions of government representatives. A central IPCC Secretariat supports the work of the IPCC. The IPCC is currently organized in three Working Groups and a Task Force. The Working Groups and Task Force are assisted by technical support units (TSUs), which are hosted and financially supported by the government of the developed country Co-Chair of that Working Group/Task Force. A TSU has also been established to support work on the Synthesis Report. 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. The Working Groups meet in plenary at the level of government representatives. 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 greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Besides 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. One example is the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA).
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For more information on how the IPCC works visit the Structure pages (in English).
Procedures
The IPCC’s work is guided by a set of principles and clear procedures for all the main activities of the organization. These processes and procedures are constantly being reviewed and updated to ensure that they remain strong, transparent and reliable. For recent changes to IPCC procedures and related information see Review of Processes and Procedures (English) which covers all the recent changes to IPCC procedures approved by the Panel in the period 2010-2012.
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The document “Principles Governing IPCC Work” lays down the role of the IPCC, its organization, participation in it and its key procedures, and establishes comprehensiveness, objectivity, openness and transparency as guiding principles of IPCC Work. The following Appendices to the “Principles Governing IPCC Work” provide detailed rules and procedures: Appendix A is about the “Procedures for the preparation, review, acceptance, adoption, approval and publication of IPCC Reports“. Including: Annex 1 – Tasks and Responsibilities for Lead Authors, Coordinating Lead Authors, Contributing Authors, Expert Reviewers and Review Editors of IPCC Reports and Government Focal Points; Annex 2 – Procedure on the Use of Literature in IPCC reports; and Annex 3 – “IPCC Protocol for Addressing Possible Errors in IPCC Assessment Reports, Synthesis Reports, Special Reports and Methodology Report“ Appendix B covers “Financial Procedures for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change“ (explanatory notes to the Financial Procedures for the IPCC) (Available in English only) Appendix C contains the “Rules of Procedures for the Election of the IPCC Bureau and any Task Force Bureau“. |
In order to set priorities and guide decisions on whether to prepare Special Reports, Methodology Reports and Technical Papers, the IPCC has adopted the “Decision Framework and Criteria for Special Reports, Methodology Reports and Technical Papers“. The IPCC also has a “Conflict of Interest Policy” and an “IPCC Policy and Process for admitting Observer Organizations“.
Publications
These are published materials comprising the full scientific and technical assessment of climate change, generally in three volumes, one for each of the Working Groups of the IPCC, plus a Synthesis Report. Each of the Working Group volumes is composed of individual chapters, an optional Technical Summary and a Summary for Policymakers. The Synthesis Report synthesizes and integrates materials contained within the Assessment Reports and Special Reports. It is written in a non-technical style suitable for policymakers and addresses a broad range of policy-relevant but policy-neutral questions. It is composed of a longer report and a Summary for Policymakers.
Assessment Reports
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change (AR5)
CLIMATE CHANGE 2013 – The Physical Science Basis
Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects | Part B: Regional Aspects
Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Mitigation of Climate Change
Working Group III Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC
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CLIMATE CHANGE 2014 – Synthesis Report
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IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change (AR4)
Full report available in English only
IPCC statement on the melting of Himalayan glaciers – 20 January 2010 (PDF)
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| Working Group I Report “The Physical Science Basis” CLICK HERE | Working Group II Report “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”CLICK HERE | Working Group III Report “Mitigation of Climate Change” CLICK HERE | The AR4 Synthesis Report CLICK HERE |
IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001 (TAR)
Full report available in English only
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| Working Group I: The Scientific Basis | Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability | Working Group III: Mitigation | Synthesis Report |
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IPCC Second Assessment Report: Climate Change 1995 (SAR)
Digitized by the Digitization and Microform Unit, UNOG Library, 2010 Full report available in English only
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| Working Group I: The Science of Climate ChangeFull Report (PDF) | Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigation of Climate Change: Scientific-Technical AnalysesFull Report (PDF) | Working Group III: Economic and Social Dimensions of Climate ChangeFull Report (PDF) | IPCC Second Assessment Full Report (PDF) Errata |
1992 Supplementary Reports
Digitized by the Digitization and Microform Unit, UNOG Library, 2010 Full report available in English only
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| The Supplementary Report to The IPCC Scientific Assessment CLICK HERE | The Supplementary Report to The IPCC Impacts Assessment CLICK HERE | The IPCC 1990 and 1992 AssessmentsCLICK HERE |
IPCC First Assessment Report 1990 (FAR)
Digitized by the Digitization and Microform Unit, UNOG Library, 2010
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| Working Group I: Scientific Assessment of Climate ChangeCLICK HERE (English) | Working Group II: Impacts Assessment of Climate ChangeCLICK HERE (English) | Working Group III: The IPCC Response StrategiesCLICK HERE (English) | First Assessment Report Overview Chapter (PDF) Also in: Chinese – French – Russian – Spanish |
IPCC Special Reports
Special Reports are an assessment of a specific issue and generally follow the same structure as a volume of an Assessment Report. They are subject to the same writing, review and approval process as Assessment Reports.
Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)
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IPCC, 2012 – Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (Eds.)Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC SecretariatFull report in English (44 MB) |
Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN)
IPCC, 2011 – Ottmar Edenhofer, Ramón Pichs-Madruga, Youba Sokona, Kristin Seyboth, Patrick Matschoss, Susanne Kadner, Timm Zwickel, Patrick Eickemeier, Gerrit Hansen, Steffen Schloemer, Christoph von Stechow (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers/Technical Summary IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat Errata to SPM/TS (English printed version)Full report in English |
Note: The first print run of English version of the SPM and TS contained some editorial errors which were corrected and are reflected in the full published and electronic version of the Report as well as in subsequent print runs of the SPM and TS
Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
IPCC, 2005 – Bert Metz, Ogunlade Davidson, Heleen de Coninck, Manuela Loos and Leo Meyer (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers and Technical Summary IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat
Full report (English only) – Table of Contents – Graphics Also available on CD-ROM |
Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System: Issues Related to Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons
IPCC/TEAP, 2005 – Bert Metz, Lambert Kuijpers, Susan Solomon, Stephen O. Andersen, Ogunlade Davidson, José Pons, David de Jager, Tahl Kestin, Martin Manning, and Leo Meyer (Eds)
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Summary for Policymakers and Technical Summary IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat
Full Report (English only) – Also available on CD-ROM. |
Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer
IPCC, 2000 – Bert Metz, Ogunlade Davidson, Jan-Willem Martens, Sascha Van Rooijen and Laura Van Wie Mcgrory (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat Full Report HTML (English only) |
Emissions Scenarios
IPCC, 2000 – Nebojsa Nakicenovic and Rob Swart (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat
Full Report in English only Digitized by the Digitization and Microform Unit, UNOG Library, 2010
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Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry
IPCC, 2000 – Robert T. Watson, Ian R. Noble, Bert Bolin, N. H. Ravindranath, David J. Verardo and David J. Dokken (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC SecretariatFull Report HTML (English only) |
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere
IPCC, 1999 – J.E. Penner, D.H. Lister, D.J .Griggs, D.J .Dokken, M. McFarland (Eds.)
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Prepared in collaboration with the Scientific Assessment Panel to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat Full Report HTML (English only) |
The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability
IPCC, 1997 – R.T. Watson, M.C. Zinyowera, R.H. Moss (Eds.)
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Summary for Policymakers IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. Available from the IPCC Secretariat Full Report HTML (English only) |
Climate Change 1994: Radiative Forcing of Climate Change and An Evaluation of the IPCC IS92 Emission Scenarios
IPCC, 1994 – J.T. Houghton, L.G. Meira Filho, J. Bruce, Hoesung Lee, B.A. Callander, E. Haites, N. Harris and K. Maskell (Eds.) Cambridge University Press, UK. pp 339
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Available from Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2RU ENGLANDFull Report in English Digitized by the Digitization and Microform Unit, UNOG Library, 2010 |
IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations
IPCC, 1994 – T.R.Carter, M.L.Parry, H.Harasawa, S.Nishioka Department of Geography, University College London, UK and the Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. pp 59
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Note: This publication is part of Climate Change 1994: Radiative Forcing of Climate Change and An Evaluation of the IPCC IS92 Emission Scenarios OUT OF PRINT Download pdf (English only) |
Methodology Reports
These are published materials, which provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories. They are intended to meet the inventory reporting requirements of Parties to the UNFCCC. They are supplemented by inventory software. They are subject to the same writing and review process as Assessment Reports. The Overview Chapters of Methodology Reports are adopted section by section by the Panel, while the report is accepted by the Panel.
2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands
2014 – Hiraishi, T., Krug, T., Tanabe, K., Srivastava, N., Baasansuren, J., Fukuda, M. and Troxler, T.G. (eds). Published: IPCC, Switzerland
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2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands Available from TFI For a CD-ROM or printed version, please contact the Technical Support Unit of the IPCC TFI at: nggip-tsu@iges.or.jp Read it on the TFI English website |
2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol
2014 – Hiraishi, T., Krug, T., Tanabe, K., Srivastava, N., Baasansuren, J., Fukuda, M. and Troxler, T.G. (eds). Published: IPCC, Switzerland
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2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol Available from TFI For a CD-ROM or printed version, please contact the Technical Support Unit of the IPCC TFI at: nggip-tsu@iges.or.jp Read it on the TFI English website |
IPCC Inventories software
2012 – For Microsoft Windows. Available for download or on CD ROM.
2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
2006 – Edited by Simon Eggleston, Leandro Buendia, Kyoko Miwa, Todd Ngara, Kiyoto Tanabe
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2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Available from TFI Also available on CD ROM Read it on the TFI English website |
Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry
2003 – Edited by Jim Penman, Michael Gytarsky, Taka Hiraishi, Thelma Krug, Dina Kruger, Riitta Pipatti, Leandro Buendia, Kyoko Miwa, Todd Ngara, Kiyoto Tanabe and Fabian Wagner
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Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Available from TFI Also available on CD ROM Read it on the TFI English website |
Definitions and Methodological Options to Inventory Emissions from Direct Human-induced Degradation of Forests and Devegatation of Other Vegetation Types
2003 – Edited by Jim Penman, Michael Gytarsky, Taka Hiraishi, Thelma Krug, Dina Kruger, Riitta Pipatti, Leandro Buendia, Kyoko Miwa, Todd Ngara, Kiyoto Tanabe and Fabian Wagner
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Definitions and Methodological Options to Inventory Emissions from Direct Human-induced Degradation of Forests and Devegatation of Other Vegetation Types Available from TFI Read it on the TFI English website |
Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
2000 – J. Penman, D. Kruger, .I Galbally, .T Hiraishi, B. Nyenzi, S. Emmanul, L. Buendia, R. Hoppaus, T. Martinsen, J. Meijer, K. Miwa and K. Tanabe (Eds.)IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme
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Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Available from TFIAlso available on CD ROM Read it on the TFI English website |
IPCC Greenhouse Gas Inventory Software for the Workbooks
Available in English only 1997 – Microsoft Excel 5.0c or later version is necessary. Also available on CD ROM
Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
1996 – JT Houghton, LG Meira Filho, B Lim, K Treanton, I Mamaty, Y Bonduki, DJ Griggs and BA Callender (Eds.)
Download from web site of TFI (English) OUT OF PRINT / Available on CD-ROM
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reporting Instructions. Volume 1 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Workbook. Volume 2 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reference Manual. Volume 3
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 are not accepted, approved or adopted by Working Groups or the Panel. They are finalized in consultation with the Bureau, which functions as an editorial board.
Climate Change and Water
Bates, B.C., Z.W. Kundzewicz, S. Wu and J.P. Palutikof, Eds. IPCC Secretariat, Geneva.
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IPCC Technical Paper VI – June 2008 Available from IPCC Secretariat. |
Climate Change and Biodiversity
H. Gitay, A. Suárez, R.T. Watson,D.J. Dokken (Eds). IPCC Secretariat, Geneva.
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IPCC Technical Paper V – April 2002 Not Available in [insert language] (English) Available from IPCC Secretariat. |
Implications of Proposed CO2 Emissions Limitations
J.T. Houghton, L.G. Meira Filho, D.J. Griggs and M. Noguer (Eds). IPCC Secretariat, Geneva.
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IPCC Technical Paper IV – October 1997 Not Available in [insert language] (English) Available from IPCC Secretariat. |
Stabilization of Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases: Physical, Biological and Socio-economic Implications
J.T. Houghton, L.G. Meira Filho, D.J. Griggs and K. Maskell (Eds). IPCC Secretariat, Geneva.
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IPCC Technical Paper IIII – February 1997 Not Available in [insert language] (English) Available from IPCC Secretariat. (Spanish OUT OF PRINT) |
An Introduction to Simple Climate Models used in the IPCC Second Assessment Report
J.T. Houghton, L.G. Meira Filho, D.J. Griggs and K. Maskell (Eds). IPCC Secretariat, Geneva.
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IPCC Technical Paper II – February 1997 Not Available in [insert language] (English) Available from IPCC Secretariat. (OUT OF PRINT) |
Technologies, Policies and Measures for Mitigating Climate Change
Bates, B.C., Z.W. Kundzewicz, S. Wu and J.P. Palutikof, Eds.
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IPCC Technical Paper I – November 1996 Not Available in [insert language] (English) IPCC Secretariat, Geneva. Available fromIPCC Secretariat. (Spanish OUT OF PRINT) |
Glossary
- Glossary of Terms used the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
- Working Group I | Working Group II | Working Group III | Synthesis Report
- Glossary of Terms used in the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN)
- Glossary of Terms used in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
- Glossary of Terms used in the IPCC Third Assessment Report
- Climate Change : a glossary by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1995)