IPCC Products, Procedures and Processes

IPCC Products, Proceduresand Processes Amsterdam, 14 May 2010 Dr. Renate Christ, Secretary of the IPCC

Principles Governing IPCC Work • Intergovernmental body • Comprehensive, objective, open and transparent assessments • Neutral with respect to policy need to deal objectively with scientific, technical and socio-economic factors relevant to the application of particular policies • Review is an essential part of the IPCC process • Does not carry out research or monitoring

Appendices to IPCC Principles • A:PROCEDURES FOR THE PREPARATION, REVIEW, ACCEPTANCE, ADOPTION, APPROVAL AND PUBLICATION OF IPCC REPORTS • B: FINANCIAL PROCEDURES FOR THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC) • C: RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR ELECTION OF THE IPCC BUREAU AND ANY TASK FORCE BUREAU WMO Financial Regulations

Initial Steps of the Process • Decision by the Panel, proposal by member country, or request from outside e.g. Convention • Scoping process, scoping meeting(s) Availability of scientific technical literature Lessons learnt from past reports, and user needs Comments from governments, experts, organizations • Approval of scope and outline by the Panel Authors’ selection • Call for nominations from governments/organizations • Selection of Authors (CLA, LA) and Review Editors (RE) by Bureau – based on clear criteria • Enlisting of Contributing Authors by Lead Authors

Writing and Review Process • Assessment of available scientific technical and socio-economic literature with emphasis on peer-reviewed literature. For non-peer reviewed literature, specific procedures apply. • Preparation of the 1st order draft • First review - by experts • Preparation of the 2nd order draft Written record on how comments were addressed Review Editors to ensure that all comments are addressed. • Second review - by governments and experts • Preparation of the final draft

Approval/acceptance/adoption • Final draft Report and draft SPM are circulated to governments and IPCC observer organizations. Governments are invited to comment on the SPM. • Approval of the SPM line by line by governments and Acceptance of the underlying report in plenary Session. CLAs and LAs are present during the approval Session to ensure consistency of SPM and the underlying assessment report. • Adoption/approval of the Synthesis Report

IPCC Writing and Review Process

IPCC Plenary IPCC Secretariat IPCC Bureau Working Group I The Physical Science Basis Working Group II Vulnerability Impacts Adaptation Working Group III Mitigation of Climate Change Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories TSU TSU TSU TSU Authors Contributors Reviewers Review Editors Authors Contributors Reviewers Review Editors Authors Contributors Reviewers Review Editors Authors Contributors Reviewers Review Editors

Plenary approved work programme and budget Voluntary contributions from governments IPCC Trust Fund IPCC Secretariat Oversee implementation of workprogramme, assist Chair, logistics, documentation and reports for sessions and meetings, liaison with governments, UN and other organizations Information and outreach programme, manage IPCC Trust Fund Meeting costs, including DSA/travel support for DC EIT authors DC Co-chair support IPCC Secretariat Staff, Publication, interpretation, translation outreach Working Group I TSU Working Group II TSU Working Group III TSU TFI TSU

Completed IPCC Reports • 4 Assessment Reports (1990,1995, 2001, 2007) • 1992 Supplementary Report and 1994 Special Report • 7 Special Reports (1997,1999, 2000, 2005) • Guidelines for National GHG Inventories, Good Practice Guidance (1995-2006) • 6 Technical Papers (1996-2008)

IPCC an Intergovernmental Body Amsterdam, 14 May 2010 Dr. Renate Christ, Secretary of the IPCC

Why was the IPCC created? 1988 by WMO and UNEP Provide objective, balanced, internationally coordinated scientific assessment on risks of human induced climate change and potential socio-economic impacts Formulate realistic response strategies UNGA 43 requested an “interim report” and recommendations

IPCC and the Policy Process • 1990UNGA 45 established INCafterIPCC FAR was presented • 1992 Supplementary Report - to support INC • UNFCCCadopted in 1992, entry into force 1994 • SAR 1995 - Kyoto Protocol • TAR 2001 – Importance of impacts and adaptation Marrakech Accords • AR4 2007 – Post Kyoto NegotiationsBali Plan of Action

IPCC contribution to UNFCCC • Methodology work for national GHG inventories • SBSTA asked IPCC to address specific scientific technical topics in ARs, e.g. SAR and TAR SYR • Invitations to prepare Special Reports and Technical Papers • IPCC briefings to delegates and presentations at major meetings, JWG Dialogue and timeliness Policy relevance

Main decisions are taken by governments in plenary Session • IPCC principles and procedures • IPCC budget, including staffing of Secretariat • Working Group structure and mandate • Establishment of a Task Force • Outreach and information programme • Elections of the IPCC Bureau and Task Force Bureau

Governments and the IPCC writing and Review Process • They decide whether to prepare a report and agree on it’s scope. • They provide input to the scoping process • They nominate experts to serve as authors, expert reviewers, and review editors. • They review the second order draft and provide comments. • They approve/accept/adopt a report

For example Working Group I:1990 Report: 365 pages, 170 lead and contributing authors from 25 countries and 200 reviewers 35 countries at final plenary 2007 Report: 987 pages, 160 lead authors and >400 contributing authors from 40 countries and 600 reviewers 113 countries at final plenary Contributions from Scientists and Governments have Increased Over Time

IPCC Products, Procedures and Processes