Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Background

The Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes itself as having been 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 should be neutral with respect to policy, although they need to deal objectively with policy relevant scientific, technical and socio economic factors. They should be of high scientific and technical standards, and aim to reflect a range of views, expertise and wide geographical coverage.'

According to the IPCC , the findings of their reports have played, and continue to play a 'major source of information for the negotiations' for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This included a decisive role in leading to the establishment of the UNFCCC itself through the Rio de Janeiro Summit in 1992 (The UNFCC entered into force in 1994) and providing key inputs for the negotiations of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

On its website, the IPCC describes its constituency as made of:

• The governments: the IPCC is open to all member countries of WMO and UNEP. Governments of participate in plenary Sessions of the IPCC where main decisions about the IPCC workprogramme are taken and reports are accepted, adopted and approved. They also participate the review of IPCC Reports.
• The scientists: hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC as authors, contributors and reviewers.
• The people: as United Nations body, the IPCC work aims at the promotion of the United Nations human development goals

Biographical Information

History

The IPCC was established in 1988 by UNEP and the WMO when they deemed climate change to be a very complex issue which created a need for policymakers to have 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'.

The IPCC has produced an Anniversary Brochure 16 Years of Scientific Assessment in Support of the Climate Convention December 2004], giving an overview of its activities since its conception. Accessed 10th April 2009.

Funding

IPPC's website states that 'IPCC activities, in particular the participation of developing country experts in the IPCC work, and publication and translation of IPCC reports are supported by the IPCC Trust Fund to which Governments, provide voluntary contributions. Governments provide further substantial support for activities of the IPCC, in particular through hosting Technical Support Units, supporting the participation of experts in IPCC activities, organising meetings and contributing to translations. WMO, UNEP and the UNFCCC provide also financial support. WMO hosts the IPCC Secretariat and WMO and UNEP provide one staff member each for the IPCC Secretariat.'

Publications, Contact, Resources and Notes

Contact

Address:

IPCC Secretariat

C/O World Meteorological Organization

7bis Avenue de la Paix, C.P. 2300

CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Phone: +41-22-730-8208

Fax: +41-22-730-8025

Email: IPCC-Sec@wmo.int

Website:

Resources

• Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change [http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/10th-anniversary/anniversary-brochure.pdf 16 Years of Scientific Assessment in Support of the Climate Convention

December 2004], Anniversary Brochure giving an overview of IPCC activities since its conception.