IPCC: science solid but some change necessary

01 September 2010


This week a scientific review wholeheartedly supported the science behind the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), also calling the organisation a "valuable resource" and a "significant social innovation." However, the peer-reviewed investigation also concluded that, "Significant improvements are ... necessary for the fifth assessment [report on climate change]," which has already begun and is due out in 2014. The authors of the review presented more than 20 recommendations for reform of the IPCC, most of which they believe can be carried out before the 5th Assessment Report is released.
The report's key recommendations for the IPCC include enhancing the transparency of the process for selecting Bureau members, authors and reviewers; strengthening procedures for the use of the so-called ‘gray literature’; strengthening the oversight and independence of the review process; and streamlining the report revision process and approval of the Summary for Policy Makers.
The investigation was carried out by 12 experts of the InterAcademy Council(IAC), an Amsterdam-based organization of 15 of the world's science academies. In response to some sustained criticism and a heightened level of public scrutiny of the Fourth Assessment Report, the United Nations and IPCC asked the InterAcademy Council (IAC) to assemble a committee to review the processes and procedures of the IPCC and make recommendations for change that would enhance the authoritative nature of the IPCC reports.

This week a scientific review wholeheartedly supported the science behind the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), also calling the organisation a "valuable resource" and a "significant social innovation." However, the peer-reviewed investigation also concluded that, "Significant improvements are ... necessary for the fifth assessment [report on climate change]," which has already begun and is due out in 2014. The authors of the review presented more than 20 recommendations for reform of the IPCC, most of which they believe can be carried out before the 5th Assessment Report is released.

The report's key recommendations for the IPCC include enhancing the transparency of the process for selecting Bureau members, authors and reviewers; strengthening procedures for the use of the so-called ‘gray literature’; strengthening the oversight and independence of the review process; and streamlining the report revision process and approval of the Summary for Policy Makers.

The investigation was carried out by 12 experts of the InterAcademy Council(IAC), an Amsterdam-based organization of 15 of the world's science academies. In response to some sustained criticism and a heightened level of public scrutiny of the Fourth Assessment Report, the United Nations and IPCC asked the InterAcademy Council (IAC) to assemble a committee to review the processes and procedures of the IPCC and make recommendations for change that would enhance the authoritative nature of the IPCC reports.


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