As of: December 2009

IPCC prepares 5th Assessment Report

Work on the 5th Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC has begun. It is scheduled to be published in 2013/2014. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), was founded in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The panel is a scientific forum, but does not itself conduct any scientific research work. Its role consists in gathering and assessing the latest results of global climate research. To this end the IPCC compiles Assessment Reports, published every 6 to 7 years, as well as Special Reports and Technical Papers. The last Assessment Report (AR4), comprising three working group reports and a synthesis report, was published in 2007.

In October 2009 the 31st plenary session of the IPCC adopted the structure of the three working group reports for AR5. Once the synthesis report structure has been adopted at the next plenary session of the IPCC in 2010, the final structure of AR5 can be adopted.

The next step for the compilation of AR5 is the nomination and selection of authors for the three working group reports. All 194 IPCC member states may nominate scientists to write the Assessment Report. The authors are then selected from the relevant working groups for the respective reports. The chapters of the working group reports are each written by different lead authors, coordinating lead authors and experts. The choice of authors for a chapter aims to ensure a broad and comprehensive range of views and expertise. Scientists from both industrialised and developing countries must also be adequately represented. After the authors and experts have been selected work can commence on the Working Group Reports and Synthesis Report.

For the AR5 period the IPCC has decided to compile two Special Reports. One of these, addressing renewable energies and their role in climate protection, will be published in February 2011, while the Special Report on “Management of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation" is expected to appear at the end of 2011.

Changes compared to the 4th Assessment Report

The structure and main subjects of the three working groups will generally be maintained for AR5. The Working Group I Report will deal with the scientific aspects of climate research, while the Working Group II Report will describe future and already occurring impacts of climate change and discuss the options for adaptation. The Working Group III Report aims to demonstrate the different strategies for dealing with climate change. This will focus primarily on the political and technological measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Working Group III will be chaired by German economist Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The chairmanship of the working group will cover the period set for compilation of the 5th IPCC Assessment Report (2008-2014).

A new aspect compared to previous assessment reports is that the Working Group I Report will focus more on climate change on a regional scale, making greater use of electronic mapping. For the first time, there will be some chapters on aerosols and clouds, changes in sea level, the carbon cycle and short-term and long-term projections.

The proposed structure of the Working Group II Report has evolved considerably since AR4: The list of contents shows that the scientific foundations of climate change and its impacts have been better integrated. The latter are covered more widely, with extreme events, disasters and adaptation issues being taken into greater account. Regional aspects of climate change are given a more comprehensive treatment in a separate volume, with more consideration given to the ocean systems and social aspects.

The Working Group III Report shows major improvements compared to AR4: An entire chapter is dedicated to the social, economic and ethical aspects of climate change, which will be comprehensively discussed. In addition, greater emphasis will be placed on political, institutional and financial issues. The Working Group III Report will also take a closer look at regional aspects, especially in relation to development.