The Green Review

The IPCC stands for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988. The purpose of the IPCC is to provide all member countries with a scientific framework to help them develop nation specific climate policies. The framework is typically in the form of an assessment report which includes the impacts and future risks of climate change and provides potential strategies for mitigation and adaptation.

The structure

The IPCC currently has 195 members representing countries around the world. Collectively, the members of the IPCC form the Panel which meets at least once a year to elect experts in the different areas covered by the IPCC assessment to form the Bureau. Similarly, the Bureau consists of around 30 members who represent various parts of the world. It is then further divided into working groups based on the six regions of the WMO. The Bureau plays a critical role in the process as part of its responsibilities includes electing experts to prepare the assessment reports. These include academics, researchers, scientists, economists, sociologists and many more. Equally important, members of the Bureau volunteer their time and expertise to guide the Panel on the scientific and technical aspects of the assessment.

In addition, the IPCC consists of an Executive Committee which facilitates the timely and effective implementation of the IPCC work programme. It meets regularly, allowing it to address any issues related to the IPCC reports during the development process (IPCC n.d)  This committee is also responsible for promoting effective coordination between the working groups and the task force on any activities related to the assessment reports.

How does the IPCC work?

The IPCC consists of three working groups and a task force. Each group contributes to a different section of the assessment report. First, the Working Group 1 authors focus on the physical science of climate change. Some of the topics assessed include atmospheric greenhouse gases; temperature changes; the hydrological cycle and precipitation patterns.

Working Group 2 focuses on the impacts of climate change across different regions and scales worldwide. This group provides the Panel with the negative and positive impacts on the ecosystem and society as well as options for adapting or mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Working Group 3 primarily focuses on climate change mitigation strategies, it addresses all aspects of mitigation including costs and feasibility. Lastly, the Task Force oversees the IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Program (IPCC n.d). Members focus on developing and refining the internationally agreed methodology and software for calculating and reporting GHG emissions. 

Why should you care?

The IPCC has published five complete assessment reports since 1990 and is yet to release the second section of the Sixth Assessment Report. These reports provide the most updated information on climate change and are easily accessible to the public. After rigorous and thorough reviewing, they also include insight on potential future scenarios based on the current rate of atmospheric greenhouse gases. The latest report stated that climate change is ‘code red for humanity’ indicating that governments need to strengthen their climate policies to avoid further damage. Not only are the reports an important tool for governments, but they also serve as a wake-up call for individuals across the world to act. Whether you consider it as making your voice heard or reducing your meat consumption, these small actions are just as important in tackling the climate crisis.  

Sources

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/