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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Receives Results of Independent Review of its Processes and Procedures |
- 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
Oxburgh Review, completed 14 April 2010
Penn State Review of Michael Mann, completed 1 July 2010
Dutch PBL Review, completed 5 July 2010
Muir Russell Review, completed 7 July 2010
EPA Review, completed 29 July 2010
Press Release (PDF)
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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 by Dr. Pachauri (PDF)
Dutch Government Report
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PRESS RELEASE - 5 July 2010, Geneva
Review by Dutch Government Confirms IPCC’s Core Conclusions on Impacts of Climate Change - Recommendations for Future Improvements Welcomed
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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 Editorsa. 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.htmlc. 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 of the IPCC
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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
For Terms of
Reference for the Review and background information see below:
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Launch of Independent Review of IPCC Processes and ProceduresNew
York, UN Headquarters, 10 March 2010
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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.
Webcast of statements by UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon and IPCC Chair Rajendra K. Pachauri
Accompanying
documents are:
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”
Terms of
Reference for the Independent Review by the IAC
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
Webcast of press conference of IAC Co-Chair Robbert
Dijkgraaf on IPCC
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 (mp3)
Moving towards the Fifth Assessment
Report (AR5)
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Press Release - 831 Experts selected for the Fifth
Assessment Report
Geneva, 23 June 2010
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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.”
IPCC WG I AR5 Authors List (PDF)
IPCC WG II AR5 Authors List (PDF)
IPCC WG III AR5 Authors List (PDF)
Press Release (PDF)
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Media Information Note on the nomination process for the Fifth
Assessment Report of IPCC Geneva, 24 March 2010
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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
Bureaux
follow the IPCC Principles and Procedures for selection based on
criteria that
cover expertise, range of views, and geographical representation. The
Bureaux
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.htmAdditional
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.pdfFor
additional information, please contact:
IPCC-Media@wmo.int
Media Information Note (PDF)
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UNFCCC Climate Change Conference - COP 15Copenhagen,
Denmark, 7-18 December 2009
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PRESS BRIEFING "On the road to the next Report" - 12
December 2009
Invitation
Watch
the webcast
PRESS
CONFERENCE to launch The IPCC
Climate Education Programme - 16
December 2009
Invitation
Leaflet
Remarks
of Mr Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, delivered by Mrs Gro
Harlem Brundtland
Watch
the webcast
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UNFCCC Barcelona Climate Change Talks 2009Barcelona, Spain,
2-6 November 2009
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IPCC
reinforces scientific message, while approving outline of its next
Assessment Report
PRESS RELEASE - 4 November 2009
Presentations and Webcast of the IPCC side event on 3 November
IPCC Meetings
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31st Session of the IPCC, Bali, Indonesia, 26-29 October 2009
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Speeches at the Opening Ceremony, 26 October 2009
Speech by Mr Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chairman
Speech by Mr Rachmat Witoelar, Chairman of the National Council on Climate Change, Indonesia
Speech by Ms Sri Woro Budiarti Harijono, Director General of the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency
(BMKG), Indonesia
Speech by Mr Hong Yan, Deputy Secretary-General of WMO
Speech by Mr Joseph Alcamo, on behalf of UNEP Executive Director, Mr Achim Steiner
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Scoping Meeting for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
Venice, Italy, 13-17 July 2009
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The IPCC met
in Venice, Italy, 13-17 July 2009, to draft the outline of
its next Assessment Report, the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).
A press
conference took place on Monday 20 July in New York at the UN Headquarters at 2.15 pm NY time.
MEDIA ADVISORY The
Opening
Ceremony took place on Monday, 13 July 2009, on the Island of San Giorgio,
Venice, Italy.
Speech of the IPCC Chairmain at the Opening
Ceremony
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30th Session of the IPCC, Antalya, Turkey, 21-23 April 2009
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IPCC to prepare report on extreme events and disasters -
Press release, Antalya, 23 April 2009
Speeches at the Opening Ceremony, 21 April 2009
Speech by Mr Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chairman
Speech by Mr Geoffrey Love, on behalf of WMO Secretary-General, Mr Michel Jarraud
Speech by Mr Peter Gilruth, on behalf of UNEP Executive Director, Mr Achim Steiner
New Bureau elections + 20th anniversary celebrations
Nobel
Peace Prize
From 9 to 11 December, the IPCC was in Oslo,
Norway, for the Nobel Peace Prize Award.
IPCC
expresses surprise and gratitude
IPCC
delegation in Oslo - biographic notes
Presentations at
the press conference:
WGI
presentation by Mr John Houghton
WGII
presentation by Mr Martin Parry
WGIII
presentation by Mr Ogunlade Davidson
More information
"Climate
Change 2007" - The IPCC Fourth Assessment
Report (AR4)
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Synthesis Report |
The Synthesis Report was launched in Valencia,
Spain, on 17 November 2007 during a press
conference.
Watch
the webcast of the press conference
Mr
Pachauri's presentation at the IPCC
Press Conference
Speakers
at the Opening Ceremony
Ban Ki-moon
to attend IPCC press conference in Valencia
on 17 November - MEDIA
ADVISORY - Geneva, 31 October 2007
Press
conference for the release of the IPCC Synthesis
Report - MEDIA
ADVISORY - Geneva, 18 October 2007
The
Synthesis Report Core Writing Team
The Synthesis Report 's Summary for Policymakers
The Synthesis Report - Full
report
Read Mr Ban-Ki-moon speech to the IPCC Plenary in Valencia
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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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
IPCC Statements and Fact Sheets
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Statement of the IPCC Chairman on the establishment of an independent committee to review IPCC Procedures, Geneva, Switzerland
27 February 2010
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Statement Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish
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The role of the IPCC and key elements of the IPCC assessment process(*),
Geneva, Switzerland
4 February 2010
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Document
(*) Last changed or added: 19 Feb 2010 23:20"
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Statement on IPCC principles and procedures(*), Geneva, Switzerland
2 February 2010
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Statement
(*) Last changed or added: 19 Feb 2010 23:20"
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IPCC statement on trends in disaster losses, Geneva, Switzerland
25 January 2010
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Statement
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IPCC statement on the melting of Himalayan glaciers, Geneva, Switzerland
20 January 2010
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Statement
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IPCC Statements
on reports regarding hacking of the East Anglia University email
communications, Geneva - Bern, Switzerland4 December 2009
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Statement
by the IPCC Chairman
Further
elaboration by IPCC Working Group I
MORE
INFO about other reports and past press
releases
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Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage |
Montreal,
26 September 2005
Press
Advisory
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Special Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System |
Addis Ababa, 11 April 2005 - Press advisory
Factual response to points raised by MIPIGGs
Press release
Reaction on the 10 points of criticism from MIPIGGs
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“Climate Change 2001” – The IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR) |
Visit
the web page
IPCC
elects Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri as its Chairman
- Geneva, 20 April 2002
IPCC
highlights the growing contribution of aviation
to global warming, - Geneva, 4 June 1999
For additonal information, please contact:
IPCC-Media@wmo.int
For interview requests:
Isabel García-Gill
IPCC Senior Communication and
Media Relations Programme Manager
Tel.: +41 22 730 8508