Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an international panel of scientists and researchers that provides advice on climate change to the international community. 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.
- Climate Change 2007 - The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
