Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC, or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is an organization of the United Nations that provides scientific information concerning climate change, its observed consequences, and possible future occurrences. It also reports on the options that governments and other businesses can take to adapt to and prevent the impacts of climate change. The IPCC was created in 1988 by WMO and UNEP and its main objective is to assess the scientific, technical, and socioeconomic aspects of climate change and its impacts. It can also provide policy-makers and international communities with scientific information for decision-making.

Understanding the IPCC

The IPCC is not a research organization and does not carry out research; it provides a scientific assessment of climate change in the available scientific literature. This process involves thousands of scientists and experts who contribute voluntarily, over thousands of professional partnerships to review and summarize the current knowledge on climate change.

Key Functions of the IPCC

• Assessment Reports: The IPCC comes up with assessment reports that contain a vast synthesis of information on climate change as it is today. These reports are released nearly every six to seven years and are regarded to be the most comprehensive and trustworthy for climate change.
• Special Reports: Besides its assessment reports, IPCC puts out special reports on selected issues such as the emission of greenhouse gases in the context of sustainable development like the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, climate change and land, and the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate.
• Methodology Reports: The IPCC provides approaches and procedures for determining the emissions of greenhouse gases. These are applied to estimate emissions by nations under the various agreements, including the Paris Agreement.

Importance of the IPCC

The function of the IPCC is essential for policy-making and the international climate change negotiations that is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report of the IPCC has provided the groundwork to establish climate targets for nations in the fight against global warming and its effects.

FAQs about IPCC

1. What is the role of the IPCC in combating climate change?

The IPCC mandate is the scientific assessment of climate change, its impacts and risks, and the provision of advice on the development of adaptation and mitigation measures. This information is then applied by the policymakers to create proper climate change policies and measures.

2. How does the IPCC produce its reports?

All the IPCC reports are developed through a comprehensive and systematic reviews and assessments made by thousands of scientists and other experts for the world. The reports go through a review process and the final versions must be accepted by officials of IPCC member nations.