Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading body for the assessment of climate change and provides the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences.
It is acknowledged by governments around the world, including the Australian Government, as the authoritative source of advice on climate change science. It was established by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Program in 1988.
The role of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risks of human-induced climate change. The IPCC provides policy relevant, but not policy prescriptive advice on the state of technical knowledge on climate change. The IPCC does not carry out new research nor does it monitor climate-related data.
It bases its assessments mainly on published and peer-reviewed scientific and technical literature. The main purpose of IPCC assessments is to inform international negotiations on climate change issues.
Assessing knowledge of climate change
The IPCC has completed four comprehensive assessment reports to date, in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007. These reports have been instrumental in developing an international response to climate change including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol by providing a firm foundation on which to build climate policy.
The IPCC has recently decided to undertake a Fifth Assessment Report to be finalised in 2013 and 2014. The Fifth Assessment Report will focus on addressing knowledge gaps, our evolving understanding in relevant scientific and technical fields and the needs of policy makers.
• Climate Change 2007—The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report