• Media Advisory on series of outreach events on special report on managing risks of climate extremes and disasters
• Press release on special report Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events - (audio recording) - 28 March
• Fact sheet on special report Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events
• Press Conference Advisory on release of full special report Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events
• Media Advisory - IPCC releases full special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events
• Press Release - IPCC Sessions in Kampala, Uganda - Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events
  English- French- Spanish- Russian- Chinese- Arabic
• Media Advisory - IPCC Sessions in Kampala, Uganda - Special Report Approval and Launch: Managing the Risks of Extreme Weather Events
• Press Briefing on the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) 28 June 2011, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Speakers: Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC, and Dr. Renate Christ, Secretary of the IPCC.
   
  The recorded Press Briefing is available by clicking here or by going to the UN Webcast website.
• Media Advisory - IPCC Media Briefing - Joint IPCC WGI/WGII/WGIII Expert Meeting on Geoengineering, Lima Peru - 22 June 2011 (Audio - requires mp3 player)
• Press Release - Further IPCC Strengthening Agreed at Plenary Session in Abu Dhabi - 13 May 2011, Abu Dhabi
• Press Release - Potential of Renewable Energy Outlined in Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - 9 May 2011, Abu Dhabi
  Revised translations:  [Arabic  Chinese  French  Russsian  Spanish ]
• Media Advisory - Prospects for Renewable Energy and the Review of Processes and Procedures of the IPCC Top its Two Sessions in Abu Dhabi - 21 April 2011
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Strengthens Processes and Procedures at 32nd Plenary Session, 14 October 2010, Busan, Republic of Korea

  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Strengthens Processes and Procedures at 32nd Plenary Session
   
  In its recent plenary session concluded today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decided to strengthen a number of its processes and procedures.  These changes will improve the way the IPCC works and how it is governed, and benefit the central objective of ensuring the best assessment of climate science. 
  
  The Panel considered a number of recommendations and suggestions made by the InterAcademy Council (IAC) in its independent review into the processes and procedures of the IPCC. The Chair of the IPCC, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, requested this review jointly in March of 2010. The IAC published its review on August 30th 2010.
  
  The Panel made clear that the IAC recommendations are important to improve the way the IPCC works and how it is governed. 
  
  The IPCC is taking decisive action to respond to these recommendations in a way that is transparent and open, and ensures the highest quality assessments are produced and made available to the international community.
  
  At its 32nd session, the Panel agreed to immediately implement many of the recommendations. These include guidance on uncertainty, non-peer-reviewed literature and addressing potential errors. In addition, the Panel agreed to set up a task group which will address the establishment of an Executive Committee, review the key responsibilities of the Secretariat, as well as the terms of reference of Chair and Co-chairs of the Working Groups. The IPCC also decided to implement a rigorous conflict of interest policy and established a task group to propose options.
  
  The Panel accepted the recommendation to develop a communication strategy. It also formed task groups to address other IAC recommendations related to IPCC procedures for the preparation of the assessment reports. 
  
  The IAC review highlights the contribution the IPCC has made to improving the understanding of the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of climate change, and the commitment of the world’s leading scientists and other experts to a robust assessment process. 
  
  The work to prepare the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), which will be published in 2014, remains on course and will benefit from the Panel’s decisions. 
  
  Speaking following the conclusion of the plenary meeting, Dr Rajendra Pachauri said: “I am pleased that the Panel has accepted a number of important recommendations which were made in the IAC review. These will strengthen the IPCC and ensure it is able to effectively perform its role in accurately assessing climate science. I look forward to working with the Panel to continue the process of reform.”
  
  Notes to Editors
  
  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  The IPCC is an interdisciplinary and intergovernmental body comprised of 194 participating countries.  It mobilizes scientific experts from around the world to carry out assessments of global climate science based on the available relevant literature.   
  
  Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the IPCC reports.  The members of the IPCC Bureau, including the IPCC chair, serve in their expert capacity and are not paid by the IPCC. Rigorous review is an essential part of the process, broadening the set of individuals contributing and ensuring an objective and comprehensive assessment of current information. 
  
  For the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, released in 2007, 559 experts from 130 countries served as lead authors.  More than 2,500 reviewers provided more than 90,000 comments. 
  
  Press Release (PDF)
  

• 32nd IPCC Plenary Session, 11-14 October in Busan, Republic of Korea

  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is pleased to announce its 32nd Plenary Session being held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), Busan, Republic of Korea on 11-14 October 2010.
   
  Members of the media have attended the Opening Ceremony on Monday, 11 October from 10:00-11:00am. The chairman of the IPCC, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri opened the meeting. Three dignitaries from the Republic of Korea also welcomed the delegations: Mr. Maanee Lee, Minister of Environment, Mr. Byung-Seong Chun, Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration and Mr. Nam-sik Hur, Mayor of the City of Busan.
   
  A press conference will be held at the end of the plenary on Thursday 14 October. The press conference will take place between 6:00-7:00pm local time. The press conference will be held in Room 104-105 on the first floor of the BEXCO in Busan. Journalists wishing to dial into the press conference should email IPCC-Media@wmo.int and we will be happy to send you dial in details.
   
  To obtain credentials or for further information about the IPCC press conference, please contact Isabel Garcia-Gill, Senior Communication and Media Relations Manager, IPCC Secretariat at IPCC-Media@wmo.int or by phone +41 79 631 3319. Additional information about the session can be found at:
   
  http://www.ipcc.ch/meeting_documentation/meeting_documentation_32nd_session.htm
   
  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the leading body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences.

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Receives Results of Independent Review of its Processes and Procedures, 30 August 2010, New York

  - Recommendations to be taken to IPCC plenary in October
  - IPCC strengthened by IAC review and others carried out this year
  
  New York, Aug. 30, 2010 - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change welcomed the findings today of an independent review of its processes and procedures by the InterAcademy Council, the respected umbrella group for various national academies of science from countries around the world.
   
  The nearly four-month review examined every aspect of how the IPCC's periodic climate science assessments are prepared, including the use of non-peer reviewed literature and the reflection of diverse viewpoints. The review also examined institutional aspects, including management functions as well as the panel's procedures for communicating its findings to the public.
   
  "The IPCC will be strengthened by the IAC review and by others of its kind this year," said IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri, Ph.D. "We already have the highest confidence in the science behind our assessments. We're now pleased to receive recommendations on how to further strengthen our own policies and procedures."
   
  National governments, which form the IPCC, will carefully review the recommendations from the IAC at the organization's plenary in October. Those 194 governments will determine what action to take.
   
  Six other independent reviews have looked at various aspects of climate science this year. Of those that examined the quality of the science itself, all of them found that the IPCC's work had been carried out appropriately.
   
  "By overwhelming consensus, the scientific community agrees that climate change is real. Greenhouse gases have increased markedly as a result of human activities and now far exceed pre-industrial values," Pachauri said.
   
  Pachauri and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon jointly requested the IAC review in March 2010.
   
  In June, the selection of more than 800 climate scientists to work on the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was announced and work is now underway. The IAC's recommendations are expected to strengthen the processes used to produce that report, which will be published in 2013-2014.
   
  Notes to Editors
   
  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  The IPCC is an interdisciplinary and intergovernmental body comprised of 194 participating countries. It mobilizes scientific experts from around the world to carry out assessments of global climate science based on the available relevant literature.
   
  Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the IPCC reports. The members of the IPCC Bureau, including the IPCC chair, serve in their expert capacity and are not paid by the IPCC. Rigorous review is an essential part of the process, broadening the set of individuals contributing and ensuring an objective and comprehensive assessment of current information.
   
  For the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, released in 2007, 559 experts from 130 countries served as lead authors. More than 2,500 reviewers provided more than 90,000 comments.
   
  The InterAcademy Council
  The 18-member InterAcademy Council Board is composed of presidents of 15 academies of science and equivalent organizations representing Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
   
  It also includes the African Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) as well as representatives of the InterAcademy Panel (IAP) of scientific academies, the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), and the InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP) of medical academies.
   
  Overview of other inquiries into climate science and IPCC during 2010
   
  House of Commons review, completed 21 March 2010
   
  

  1. Oxburgh Review, completed 14 April 2010
  2. Penn State Review of Michael Mann, completed 1 July 2010
  3. Dutch PBL Review, completed 5 July 2010
  4. Muir Russell Review, completed 7 July 2010
  5. EPA Review, completed 29 July 2010

  
   
  Press Release (PDF)

• Review by Dutch Government Confirms IPCC's Core Conclusions on Impacts of Climate Change - Recommendations for Future Improvements Welcomed, 5 July 2010, Geneva

  Geneva, 5 July 2010: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said today that the findings from "Assessing  an IPCC assessment" a review by the Dutch government confirmed the most important conclusions of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) published by the IPCC in 2007 and provided recommendations for making future reports more useful and robust.
  
  The review of the IPCC's Regional Chapters in the Working Group II portion of the AR4 was conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Plan Bureau voor de Leefomgeving - PBL) at the request of the Dutch Environment Minister. The objective of the review was to investigate if there were errors in these 8 chapters of the 44-chapter AR4. Authors of the IPCC report provided information and inputs as demanded by PBL, but played no role in the preparation of this review.
  
  "The review is explicit in its finding that the key conclusions of the IPCC 4th Assessment Report are accurate, correct and supported entirely by the leading science in the field," said Martin Parry, Co-Chair of AR4 Working Group II.
  
  The reviewers looked at 32 statements on regional impacts of climate change. Their summary is that all 32 are "well founded and none were found to contain any significant errors". [1]
  
  The review also states: "The Working Group II contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report shows ample observational evidence of regional climate-change impacts, which have been projected to pose substantial risks to most parts of the world, under increasing temperatures." [2]
  
  The review serves to reinforce the conclusions on regional impacts of climate change in the 2007 Report: many impacts have been confirmed, and continued climate change will pose serious challenges to human wellbeing and sustainable development.
  
  The IPCC will pay close attention to the PBL's recommendations for strengthening future reports and will consider these findings in the context of the full set of inputs it receives, especially the findings of the ongoing review by the InterAcademy Council, which was jointly requested by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the IPCC.
  
  Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC said: "We consider the PBL review a useful acknowledgement of the IPCC's central role as an independent source of scientific knowledge on climate change, helping inform decision makers around the world with its objective assessments."
  
  References
  
  [1] Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Assessing an IPCC assessment: An analysis of statements on projected regional impacts in the 2007 report. The Hague/Bilthoven, 2010. p.9
  
  [2] Ibid. p.9
  
  Notes to Editors
  
  a. The IPCC was created in 1988 to provide the world's governments with information on climate change that is relevant to policy but without advocating particular policy options.
  
  b. The PBL review identified a small number of minor errors in the IPCC report. These have been corrected with erratum statements posted on the IPCC web site: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/errataserrata-errata.html
  
  c. The conclusions of the InterAcademy Council review examining the IPCC's policies and procedures are expected in late August 2010.
  
  Press Release(PDF)
  
  "Assessing  an IPCC assessment", PBL review by the Dutch government

• IAC Independent Review now under way

  Responding to a joint request by the Chairman of the IPCC and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, an independent review of the IPCC's processes and procedures is now under way by the InterAcademy Council(IAC).
   
  The IAC announced on Monday 3 May 2010 the 12 members of the review panel, to be chaired by economist Harold T. Shapiro, former president of Princeton University.
   
  For further information on the review process see: www.interacademycouncil.net/ipccreview

• Launch of Independent Review of IPCC Processes and Procedures, New York, UN Headquarters, 10 March 2010

  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and IPCC Chair Dr. Rajendra Pachauri launched an Independent Review of the IPCC Processes and Procedures at a Press event held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday 10 March 2010.
   
  View Webcast of statements by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and IPCC Chair Rajendra K. Pachauri
   
  Accompanying documents are:
  

  1. PRESS RELEASE - "Scientific Academy to Conduct Independent Review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Processes and Procedures at Request of United Nations and IPCC"
  2. Terms of Reference for the Independent Review by the IAC
  3. Letters by the Chair of the IPCC and the UN Secretary General to the Co-chairs of the InterAcademy Council (IAC) : Dr Dijkgraaf     Dr Lu
  4. View Webcast of press conference of IAC Co-Chair Robbert Dijkgraaf on IPCC
  5. Statement by IAC Co-Chair Robbert Dijkgraaf

  
   
  Also on March 10, 2010 a tele-presser was held for members of the Press in New York City. The United Nations Foundation joined with Dr. Chris Field, Director, Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology, Stanford University and IPCC Co-chair of Working Group II, to provide commentary on the announcement of a IPCC review panel and the state of climate science overall. Also present to answer questions from journalists were: Janos Pasztor, Director of Secretary-General's Climate Change Support Team and Timothy Wirth, President, United Nations Foundation. (Click and listen)

• 831 Experts selected for the Fifth Assessment Report. Geneva, 23 June 2010

  Over 50% more Nominations Demonstrate Increasing Interest Among Scientists to Contribute to the IPCC
   
  More Women and More Authors from Developing Countries Reflect Wide Diversity of Disciplines and Scientific Views

  
  

  The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) announces today the release of the final list of selected Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors and Review Editors. This unique team of 831 climate change experts will dedicate almost four years to the three Working Group Reports of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to be published between 2013 and 2014. These experts will also provide contributions to the Synthesis Report to be published in 2014.
   
  In the selection of authors particular attention has been given to relevant expertise to ensure that IPCC author teams consist of leading experts in the respective fields with a range of scientific views on climate change. The 831 individuals are drawn from fields including meteorology, physics, oceanography, statistics, engineering, ecology, social sciences and economics. In selecting the author teams the IPCC stressed the need for regional and gender balance and recognized the importance of involving new and younger authors.
   
  In total 831 experts will contribute to the AR5, divided between the three working groups (WG). WG I focuses on the physical science basis and will include 258 experts. WG II assesses the impacts, adaptation strategies and vulnerability related to climate change and will involve 267 experts. WG III covers mitigation response strategies in an integrated risk and uncertainty framework and its assessments will be carried out by 306 experts.
   
  In March 2010, the IPCC received approximately 3,000 nominations. At the Bureau session held in Geneva, 19-20 May 2010, the three working groups presented their selected authors and review editors for the AR5. Each of the selected scientists, specialists and experts was nominated in accordance with IPCC procedures, by respective national IPCC Focal Points, by approved observer organizations, or by the Bureau.
   
  In comparison to the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), participation from developing countries has been increased reflecting the on-going efforts to improve regional coverage in the AR5. About 30% of authors will come from developing countries or economies in transition. The proportion of female experts, has significantly increased since the AR4, reaching approximately 25% of the selected authors. More than 60% of the experts chosen are new to the IPCC process, which will bring in new knowledge and perspectives.
   
  The IPCC received 50% more nominations of experts to participate in AR5 than it did for AR4. A total of 559 authors and review editors had been selected for AR4 from 2,000 proposed nominees.
   
  "This increase reflects the high regard of the IPCC's work within the scientific community", said Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC. "The IPCC is very grateful to all those scientists, specialists and experts who will give their time freely to participate in the work of AR5."
   
  

  1. IPCC WG I AR5 Authors List (PDF)
  2. IPCC WG II AR5 Authors List (PDF)
  3. IPCC WG III AR5 Authors List (PDF)

  
  Press Release

• Media Information Note on the nomination process for the Fifth Assessment Report of IPCC Geneva, 24 March 2010

  We are pleased to announce the completion of the nomination process for the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), scheduled for completion in 2013-2014, will be the next comprehensive assessment of all aspects of climate change by the IPCC. Over 3000 experts were nominated by IPCC national Focal Points or Observer Organizations.
   
  As is the case for all IPCC reports, the author selection process is being carried out by the Working Group Bureaux, which are comprised of leading scientists representing all regions of the world, elected by the IPCC members (the governments of the world’s nations). The Bureau follow the IPCC Principles and Procedures for selection based on criteria that cover expertise, range of views, and geographical representation. The Bureau will also consider the need for experts from developed and developing countries, gender balance, and experts new to the IPCC process.
   
  Approximately 600 to 700 scientists will be selected as Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors. Many additional experts will be invited to participate as Contributing Authors as the work on the Fifth Assessment Report progresses. The author teams will conduct the scientific-technical assessment using procedures that emphasize comprehensiveness, scientific independence, openness, thorough review and transparency.
   
  The author selection process will be completed at the upcoming meeting of the IPCC Bureau, in May, 2010.  The final slate of Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors will then be provided to the IPCC member governments and made publicly available.
   
  The composition of the IPCC Bureaux is at: http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization_bureau.htm
   
  Additional information on the IPCC procedures for the preparation of reports and the roles of each type of author and of review editors is at: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/ipcc-principles/ipcc-principles-appendix-a.pdf
   
  For additional information, please contact: IPCC-Media@wmo.int
   
  Media Information Note (PDF)

• IPCC reinforces scientific message, while approving outline of its next Assessment Report, 4 November 2009, UNFCCC Barcelona Climate Change Talks 2009, Barcelona, Spain.

  PRESS RELEASE -

• New Bureau elections + 20th anniversary celebrations, 2008

  During its 29th Plenary Session in Geneva from 1 to 4 September 2008, the Panel has elected its new Bureau.
  MEDIA ADVISORY: Mr. Rajendra Pachauri has been reelected by acclamation
   
  On 31 August 2008, the organization celebrated its 20th birthday.

• Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage, Montreal. 26 September 2005

  Press Advisory

• Special Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System, Addis Ababa. 11 April 2005

  Factual response to points raised by MIPIGGs
  Press release
  Reaction on the 10 points of criticism from MIPIGGs
  

• "Climate Change 2001" - The IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR)

  1. IPCC elects Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri as its Chairman - Geneva, 20 April 2002
  2. IPCC highlights the growing contribution of aviation to global warming, - Geneva, 4 June 1999
  3. IPCC adopts the final volume to its Third Assessment Report "Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report" - Wembley, 29 September 2001
          Press Advisory - 20 September 2001
  4. IPCC Working Group III accepts its contribution to IPCC Third Assessment Report "Climate Change 2001: Mitigation" - Accra, 3 March 2001
          Press Advisory - 28 February 2001
          Information note - 5 March 2001
  5. IPCC Working Group II accepts its contribution to IPCC Third Assessment Report "Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability"- Geneva, 16 February 2001
          Press Advisory - 12 February 2001:  [ english | français ]
          Information note - 19 February 2001
  6. IPCC Working Group I accepts its contribution to IPCC Third Assessment Report "Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis" - Shanghai, 20 January 2001
          Press Advisory - 16 January 2001
          Information note - 22 January 2001

Please find below official statements from the IPCC. Presentations about IPCC reports and more speeches by senior officials can be found under Presentation and Speeches.
 

• Progress Report delivered to Plenary by Chairman Rajendra Pachauri - Geneva, 24 May 2011 - Sixteenth World Meteorological Congress
• Statement by Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at the Opening of the UNFCCC meeting (COP16), 29 November 2010, Cancun, Mexico

  Your Excellency, President of Mexico, Mr Filipe Calderon
  First Lady of Mexico, Madame Margarita Zavala
  Your Excellency, Foreign Secretary, Madame Patricia Espinoza Cantellano
  Your Excellency, Secretary of Environment, Mr Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada
  Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Madame Christiana Figueres
  Ms. Simona Gomez, Representative of the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico
   
  Excellencies
  Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
  Members of the Media and Colleagues
   
  It is a great privilege for me to speak at the opening of this Conference, in the beautiful city of Cancun, Mexico - a country with a rich cultural heritage and contemporary dynamism. I speak, as I have done before, on behalf of the scientific community that carries out assessments of all aspects of climate change under the collective direction of all the governments of the world, which are members of the IPCC. The assessments of the Panel involve a mammoth human effort. To appreciate the scale and complexity of this effort may I mention that the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the IPCC completed in 2007 involved approximately 3750 experts including lead authors, contributing authors and expert reviewers, all of whom volunteered their time without compensation by the IPCC. The AR4 referred to approximately 18,000 items of published literature and dealt with about 90,000 comments provided at various stages of drafting by reviewers from governments and the scientific community.
   
  Let me highlight two important findings of the AR4: "Warming of the climate system is unequivocal as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperature, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level;" and "Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations. It is likely that there has been significant anthropogenic warming over the past 50 years averaged over each continent (except Antarctica)"
   
  The AR4 found that the resilience of many ecosystems is likely to be exceeded this century by an unprecedented combination of climate change and other global change drivers. Over the course of this century, net carbon uptake by terrestrial ecosystems is likely to peak before mid century and then weaken or even reverse thus amplifying climate change.
   
  Approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average temperatures exceed 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius. Anthropogenic warming could lead to some impacts that are abrupt or irreversible depending upon the rate and magnitude of the climate change. Partial loss of ice sheets on polar land could imply meters of sea level rise, major changes in coast lines and inundation of low-lying areas, with greatest effects in river deltas and low-lying islands.
   
  It is noted that the Copenhagen Accord aimed "to hold the increase in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius" and recognized "that deep cuts in global emissions are required" and countries "should cooperate in achieving the peaking of global and national emissions as soon as possible". In fact, the least cost trajectory for stringent mitigation assessed in the AR4 clearly estimated that global emissions should peak no later than 2015 and decline thereafter.
   
  The AR4 assessed a wide range of impacts based on past observations and projected those that are likely to occur in the future for different levels and magnitudes of climate change. Some of these are extremely important to bear in mind, because indeed the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC as stated in Article 2 is to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Science cannot determine what constitutes "dangerous", but it can provide substantial scientific evidence and insights on the basis of which negotiators can determine how to integrate this information in the context of Article 2.
   
  To achieve that goal, mitigation efforts and investments over the next 2 to 3 decades will have a large impact on opportunities to achieve lower stabilization levels. Delayed emissions reduction significantly constrains the opportunities to achieve lower stabilization levels and increases the risk of more severe climate change impacts. Neither adaptation not mitigation alone can avoid all climate change impacts; however they can complement each other and together can significantly reduce the risks of climate change. Responding to climate change therefore involves an iterative risk management process that includes both adaptation and mitigation and takes into account climate change damages, co-benefits, sustainability, equity and attitudes.
   
  Changes in lifestyle and behavior patterns can contribute to climate change mitigation across all sectors. Policies that provide a real or implicit price of carbon could create incentives for producers and consumers to significantly invest in low GHG products, technologies and processes. Mitigation options are associated with a range of co-benefits, which include lower levels of air pollution and associated health benefits, higher levels of energy security, higher levels of employment and higher levels of agricultural production. The AR4 has assessed that for a stabilization level of between 445 to 535 ppm of CO2 equivalent the reduction of average annual GDP growth rates up to 2030 would be less than 0.12 percent. The range of global GDP reduction in 2030, therefore, would be less than 3 percent as part of a least cost trajectory towards different long term stabilization levels. The association of co-benefits, such as those related to the objectives of development, sustainability and equity should also be seen in the context of estimated costs.
   
  The AR4 has assessed a number of mitigation portfolios for achieving stabilization of GHG concentrations, and energy conservation and efficiency are some of the most attractive options available. It was also found that the buildings sector among others had substantial potential for emissions reduction, which remained relatively unaffected by different levels of cost associated with GHG emissions. Another area that has significant potential is the forestry sector, and perhaps in the short term this would provide some attractive opportunities. Mitigation therefore presents a range of benefits, which can be achieved at very low, and sometimes even negative, costs. In the negotiations to follow during the coming days, it is important for those involved to remember that delay in mitigation actions would only increase costs globally and unfairly for some regions of the world.
   
  The second, perhaps even more important point to remember is that delays in action would only lead to impacts of climate change which would be much larger and in all likelihood more severe than we have experienced so far. Again, these impacts are likely to be most severe for some of the poorest regions and communities in the world. Significantly, in most cases these communities have hardly contributed to the cumulative emissions of GHGs in the past. Furthermore, even if we could limit global average temperature increase to between 2 - 2.4 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels at equilibrium, some impacts would be unavoidable and global average sea-level rise on account of thermal expansion alone would lie between 0.4 - 1.4 meters. To this we should add the contribution to sea-level rise from melting of ice across the globe.
   
  The year 2010 has been a challenging period for the IPCC and we have learnt many valuable lessons. In March this year, the UN Secretary General and I requested the InterAcademy Council (IAC) to carry out a review of IPCC procedures and processes and provide recommendations for strengthening the organization and its functioning. The IAC submitted its report in August 2010, and the last IPCC plenary held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in October 2010 deliberated on the IAC report, and initiated prompt action to consider and implement its findings. We are confident that the IPCC will emerge stronger as a result of this exercise and live up to the expectations of the global community and stand up to intense public scrutiny of its work. Work on IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) is well in hand, and the scientific community has responded splendidly to the Panel's request for its dedicated involvement. A record number of around 3000 nominations of outstanding scientists were submitted for the AR5, and from these a total of 831 have been selected by the IPCC as lead authors and review editors.
   
  The scope of the AR5 has also been expanded over and above previous reports, and would include, for instance, focused treatment of subjects like clouds and aerosols, geo-engineering options, sustainability and equity issues, and much greater focus on the economics and social implications of climate change. The next four years will be marked by intense activity in the IPCC, with two important special reports on renewable energy and extreme events, respectively, due to come out within the next year. In September 2013, the Working Group 1 report as part of the AR5 would be completed, followed rapidly thereafter by the reports of Working Groups II and III respectively. The Synthesis Report of the AR5 will be completed in November 2014, marking the culmination of the AR5 cycle.
   
  In this context, Mr. President, may I salute you for the support you have provided personally along with your government to the scientific community. As an organization whose relevance to climate change policy is treated as a sacred trust by those working for the IPCC, every effort is being made to ensure that the AR5 is robust, strong and comprehensive, advancing our knowledge and understanding of climate change significantly beyond what we already know. But it is important to remember that what we know already on the basis of the AR4 is enough for us to justify adequate, timely and purposeful action to deal with the growing challenge of climate change. We hope Cancun signifies a major step in action to deal with the challenge of climate change. The available scientific knowledge in this field justifies it and the global community rightly expects it.
   
  Thank you.

• Opening Statement by Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at a press conference at the United Nations in New York

  Good morning and welcome. It is a pleasure to be here.
  
  I want to begin by thanking Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for hosting the IPCC today. His efforts to help the world understand and meet the challenge of climate change cannot be underestimated.
  
  I also want to thank the UN Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization for providing and arranging the funding for the IAC's review.
  
  As a science-driven organization, it is important for the IPCC to question. Only by challenging scientific findings do we expose weak arguments and substantiate strong ones.
  
  So when questions arose earlier this year about the IPCC's own work, we welcomed - even invited - a review of our processes and procedures.
  
  We initiated the process by recommending to the UN Secretary General that we commission an independent review. Then, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and I jointly requested that the InterAcademy Council undertake this task.
  
  The IAC was uniquely qualified to conduct a review of the IPCC's processes and procedures. It was created specifically to mobilize leading scientists and engineers to provide objective, evidence-based advice to international bodies.
  
  We were eager for a thorough examination. Our credibility had been challenged, and we realized from the outset that only an exhaustive, impartial and independent review would be acceptable.
  
  We were prepared to accept whatever results were forthcoming.
  
  We were determined to gather recommendations that would further the IPCC's transparency, the accuracy and value of its findings, and minimize the potential for errors.
  
  The result is the definitive examination of how the IPCC conducts climate science.
  
  The IPCC has yet to review the IAC's report, so I am not able to comment on its findings.
  
  But I would like to make a few observations about climate science.
  
  The IAC review is the seventh review this year into various aspects of climate science.
  
  While the IAC review was limited to the IPCC's processes and procedures, several of the other six reviews looked directly at the science of climate change.
  
  None of these other studies - none - found flaws with the fundamental science of climate change.
  
  By overwhelming consensus, the scientific community agrees that climate change is real. Greenhouse gases have increased markedly as a result of human activities and now far exceed pre-industrial values.
  
  I think it is worth taking a few minutes to quote from some of these reports.
  
  The Muir Russell review from the United Kingdom had this to say: "We did not find any evidence of behavior that might undermine the conclusions of the IPCC assessments."
  
  And this from the Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency about the IPCC: "Overall the summary conclusions are considered well-founded and none were found to contain any significant errors."
  
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that, "climate science is credible, compelling and growing stronger."
  
  This is not to say that the IPCC cannot improve. It can and will.
  
  We have listened to and learned from our critics. Several of them have provided thoughtful recommendations that will inform not only the IPCC but all of climate science - and strengthen both.
  
  At the IPCC's plenary in October, the governments that form the IPCC will carefully review the recommendations from the IAC. It is important to remember that those governments will decide what actions to take.
  
  Whatever those actions are, it is clear that recommendations from the IAC and other organizations will help guide the processes and procedures of the IPCC's future assessments of climate science. That includes the IPCC's forthcoming Assessment Report, known as AR5, due in 2013 and 2014.
  
  Science thrives on honest, well-reasoned debate. And there has been a productive debate this year about how to further strengthen the IPCC's work.
  
  But we also have to remember that honest scientific discourse wilts under gross distortions and ideologically driven posturing. Sadly, such tactics have been a prominent feature of climate science for many years - and they show no signs of letting up.
  
  My hope is that the accumulation of so many investigations into climate science in such a short period of time will strengthen public trust so that we can move forward.
  
  Science has confirmed that climate change is real. And the more scientific information we have, the better we can design our actions.
  
  Thankfully, experts on climate change remain fully engaged, and their enthusiasm to tackle complex issues is unabated.
  
  Their commitment was demonstrated this year during the process for selecting the experts for the IPCC's next Assessment Report.
  
  The number of nominations to work on AR5 increased 50 percent to about 3,000. From those, we selected 831 experts, compared with 559 in 2004. What a tremendous show of support.
  
  These experts were selected from fields including meteorology, engineering, biology, physics, oceanography, statistics and economics and they represent a broad diversity of geographic locations and viewpoints.
  
  And remember, these scientists, specialists and experts are not paid. It is impossible to adequately express my gratitude to them.
  
  Before we move to questions I would like to introduce the panel.
  
  I am very pleased to be accompanied today by Renate Christ the Secretary of the IPCC. As the general manager of the IPCC Secretariat, Dr. Christ expertly oversees the technical coordination and administration of the IPCC.
  
  We also have Doctors Thomas Stocker, Chris Field and Youba Sokona. They are among the world's most respected and thoughtful climate researchers. The IPCC is fortunate to have them as co-chairs of the working groups. Thank you all for joining me today.
  
  We would be pleased to take some of your questions now.
  
  

• Statement of the IPCC Chairman on the establishment of an independent committee to review IPCC Procedures, Geneva, Switzerland. 27 February 2010

  View Statement in    Arabic  -  Chinese  -  English  - French  - Russian -  Spanish

• The role of the IPCC and key elements of the IPCC assessment process(*), Geneva, Switzerland. 4 February 2010

  Document
   
  Fact sheet : the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its assessment reports
  Factsheet - How the report's Summary is approved during the Plenary
  Brochure: The IPCC & the "Climate Change 2007" report (low resolution) | High resolution version (3,3 MB)
   
  ^{(*) Last changed or added: 19 Feb 2010  23:20"}

• Statement on IPCC principles and procedures(*), Geneva, Switzerland. 2 February 2010

  Statement
   
  ^{(*) Last changed or added: 19 Feb 2010  23:20"}

• IPCC statement on trends in disaster losses, Geneva, Switzerland. 25 January 2010

  Statement
  

• IPCC statement on the melting of Himalayan glaciers, Geneva, Switzerland. 20 January 2010

  Statement
  

• IPCC Statements on reports regarding hacking of the East Anglia University email communications, Geneva - Bern, Switzerland. 4 December 2009

  Statement by the IPCC Chairman
  Further elaboration by IPCC Working Group I

2011

Archive (prior to 2011)

Synthesis Report

The Synthesis Report was launched in Valencia, Spain, on 17 November 2007 during a press conference.
 

1. Watch the webcast of the press conference
2. Mr Pachauri's presentation at the IPCC Press Conference
3. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony
4. Ban Ki-moon to attend IPCC press conference in Valencia on 17 November - Geneva, 31 October 2007
5. Press conference for the release of the IPCC Synthesis Report - Geneva, 18 October 2007
6. The Synthesis Report Core Writing Team
7. The Synthesis Report 's Summary for Policymakers
8. The Synthesis Report - Full report

WG III "Mitigation of Climate Change" Report

The report was launched in Bangkok, Thailand, the 4 May 2007, during a press conference at the end of the Working Group III Plenary Session, who approved its Summary for Policymakers.

1. The webcast of the press conference (video)
2. Presentation of WG III report by the Co-chairs during the press conference
3. Summary of Speech by Mr. Rajendra Pachauri, the Chairman of the IPCC, at the Opening Ceremony
4. Information about WG3 Authors and Review Editors
5. The WG III report’s Summary for Policymakers
6. The WG III full report

WG II "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" Report

The report was launched in Brussels, Belgium, the 6 April 2007, during a press conference at the end of the Working Group II Plenary Session, who approved its Summary for Policymakers.

1. The webcast of the press conference (full video / audio only)
2. Presentation of WG II report by the Co-chairs during the press conference
3. Regional briefing held after WGII release (interactive map)
4. Press information note - 21 March 2007
5. Information about WG II Authors and Review Editors
6. The WG II report's Summary for Policymakers
7. The WG II full report

WG I "The Physical Science Basis" Report

The report was launched in Paris, France, the 2 February 2007, during a press conference at the end of the Working Group I Plenary Session, who approved its Summary for Policymakers.

1. The webcast of the press conference (audio)
2. Presentation of WG I report by the Co-chairs during the press conference
3. Press information note - 22 January 2007
4. Information about WG I  Authors and Review Editors
5. The WG I report's Summary for Policymakers
6. The WG I full report

More info about the AR4

Presentations of the IPCC reports made by the Chair or other IPCC key speakers are also available online, along with high- definition figures and graphics and speeches during major meetings.