IPCC

Green Planet

Green Planet

Courtesy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Green Planet
Courtesy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Green Planet

Green Planet

Courtesy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

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In 1988, due to growing concerns about the climate changes they were observing, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The aim of the IPCC is to provide an objective source of information about climate change for policymakers, as well as all those interested in climate change. The IPCC does not undertake any research itself. However, it does provide assessments of the most up-to-date scientific, technical and socio-economic research on climate changes provoked by human activity. It uses this information in its reports to predict the impacts of such activity, and to provide advice on how to adapt to the changes.

Due to the objective, transparent nature of the IPCC, its reports are considered 'policy neutral' and are referenced by policy makers and decision makers.

Since it was established, the IPCC has published five Assessment Reports (in 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2014). The first IPCC Assessment Report to be published was in 1990, which proved to be crucial in the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The approved Summary for Policymakers from the fifth IPCC Assessment Report (2014) is available here and the Working Group I report, The Physical Science Basis, is available here. 

The next IPCC synthesis report is planned for 2022.