IPCC
How it works & What it’s working on

Abdalah Mokssit
Secretary/IPCC

IPCC History and Role

IPCC – jointly
established byWMO and UNEPTARFARSARUNFCCC

Kyoto Adaptation
Protocol

AR5AR4

SR15 MR

AR6

SROCC
SRCCL

UNFCCC
GlobalStocktake

2018 20192023

2 °C limit Paris Agreement

Nobel Peace Prize

1988
1970s-1980s

2007

1995

1990

2001

2013-2014

2021-2022

IPCC Reports
Five assessment reports (1990, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2013-14)
1992 supplementary report and 1994 special report
Nine special reports (1997, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2012)
Guidelines for national GHG inventories, good practiceguidance (1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2013)

Six technical papers (1996-2008)

The role of the IPCC is …
“… to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent
basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information
relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of humaninduced climate change, its potential impacts and options foradaptation and mitigation.”“IPCC reports should be neutral with respect to policy, although
they may need to deal objectively with scientific, technical andsocio-economic factors relevant to the application of particularpolicies.”
Principles Governing IPCC Work, paragraph 2
Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/ipcc-principles/ipcc-principles.pdf

Science/Policy Interface
IPCC – jointly established by WMO and UNEP, action endorsed by the UN General AssemblyIntergovernmental Panel: 195 member States
appointing National Focal Points

Working Group (WG) I
The PhysicalScience Basis

Plenary

Hundreds of scientists and experts from aroundthe world are involved in the preparation of IPCC
reports

WGIII
Mitigation ofClimate Change

Bureaux
WGII
Impacts,
Adaptation &Vulnerability

Task Force onNationalGreenhouseGas Inventories

Authors

ExpertReviewers

ReviewEditors

Findings
1990
Gave a broad overview ofclimate change science,
discussion of uncertainties
and evidence of warming

1995“The balance of evidence
suggests a discernible
human influence on
global climate”

2001 “There is new andstronger evidence thatmost of the warming
observed over the last 50years is attributable tohuman activities”
2007 "Warming of
the climate system
is unequivocal…"

2013 “Humaninfluence on theclimate system isclear.”

Progress in multiple lines of evidence and the maturation of climate science

ObservationsProcess based understanding

More sophisticated models

What are IPCC reports used for?

…and is relevant

IPCC reports have made an impact
FAR (1990)

led toUNFCCC

SAR (1995)

input forKyoto Protocol

focused attention on

Impacts of climatechange and need foradaptation

AR4 (2007)

input forDecision on 2ºC limit;
basis for post Kyoto
Protocol agreement

AR5 (2013/2014)

input forTAR (2001)

Achievements:
2013/2014 Fifth Assessment Report

Key messages
Human influence on the climate system is clear
The more we disrupt our climate, the more we risk severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts
We have the means to limit climate change and build a more prosperous, sustainable futureAchievements: 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. were awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater
knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay
the foundations for the measures that are needed tocounteract such change".

The Sixth Assessment CycleSixth Assessment Cycle (AR6)3 Special Reports
Global Warming of 1.5 °C(SR15)

Climate Change and Land(SRCCL)

Ocean and Cryosphere(SROCC)

October 2018

August 2019

September 2019

UNFCCC COP24 - Talanoa (facilitative) dialogue

Methodology Report update
May 2019: 2019 Refinement to the 2006
IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse
Gas Inventories

CitiesAttention on cities in AR6
including a conference andspecial report on cities inAR7

AR6 Main Report
2021: Working Group I, II, and III contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report
April 2022: Synthesis Report to the Sixth Assessment Report
UNFCCC global stocktake 2023

IPCC Sixth Assessment (AR6)
May 2019
Emission
inventories

Oct. 2018

Sept. 2019Globalwarming of
1.5 oC

Oceansand cryosphereTalanoa
dialogue
UNFCCCLandAug. 2019

Some overarching preliminary aspects for the Synthesis Report• Global Stocktake• Interaction among emissions, climate, risks and development pathways• Economic and social costs and benefits of mitigation and adaptation in the context
of development pathways• Adaptation and mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development• Finance and means of support

April 2021

October 2021

The PhysicalScience Basis

Climate Change
Impacts,Adaptation andVulnerability

MitigationofClimate Change
July 2021

March 2018

Cities and Climate Change Science Conference

May 2018

Expert Meeting on Assessing Climate Information for Regions

May 2018

Expert Meeting on Short Lived Climate Forcers

April 2022
The Synthesis
ReportGlobalstocktake
2023
UNFCCC* Dates are subject to changeCommunications & Outreach Activities

How IPCC Reports are ProducedPreparatory Phase

Scoping
The panel approves theoutline

The outline is drafted anddeveloped by experts
nominated by thegovernment and observerorganizations

Approval ofOutline

Nominationof Authors
Bureaux select authors

Selectionof Authors

Government and observerorganizations nominate
experts as authors

Drafts

Expert Review(FOD)The 2nd draft of the reportand 1st draft of the SPM isreviewed by governments
and experts

Govt andExpert Review(SOD)

Final Draft
and SPM

Governments review thefinal draft SPM in
preparation for its
approval

The 1st order draft isreviewed by experts(anyone can register)

Govt Reviewof Final Draft

Authors prepare finaldrafts of the report and
SPM which hare sent togovernments

Approval and Publication

Working Group/Panelapproves SPM andaccepts reports

Publication of report

10 Steps in creating IPCC reports
12376458910THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
For more information:
Website: http://ipcc.ch/
IPCC Secretariat: ipcc-sec@wmo.int
IPCC Press Office: ipcc-media@wmo.int

Find us on:
IPCC@IPCC_CH

IPCC

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipcc

http://www.slideshare.net/ipccmedia/presentations

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ipccphoto/sets/

https://www.youtube.com/c/ipccgeneva

https://vimeo.com/ipcc

Other Activities and Achievements
National Greenhouse Gas Inventories(Publication of IPCC Methodology Reports)

Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data):
facilitates distribution and application of climate change related data and scenarios

Organizing expert meetings and workshops to facilitate
discussion on topics relevant to the Assessment process

10 Steps in creating IPCC reports
12376458910