IPCCs

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body established to assess the science of climate change and its impacts. Created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IPCC synthesizes peer-reviewed research for policymakers. There is one IPCC; the plural form “IPCCs” is not an official designation, and there are no separate regional IPCCs.

It operates through three working groups and a Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Working Group I assesses the physical science basis of climate change; Working Group II addresses impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation; Working Group III covers mitigation. The IPCC does not conduct new experiments but evaluates published literature and coordinates global author teams involving thousands of scientists and government observers.

Its assessment reports and special reports are produced every several years and are the main outputs. The ARs summarize the state of knowledge on climate change, projecting future scenarios and evaluating costs, benefits, and feasibility of mitigation and adaptation options. Reports undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review by both scientists and governments.

Membership and influence: The IPCC includes member governments (about 195), along with numerous observer organizations. Its findings inform international climate policy under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and national and regional decision-making.