Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change

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About the IPCC

The IPCC was created to provide regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward options for reducing emissions and preparing for the potential impacts of climate change. 

Through its assessments, the IPCC takes stock of knowledge on climate change. It identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community, and where further research is needed. The reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages for objectivity and transparency. IPCC reports put forward options for reducing emissions and preparing for the potential impacts of climate change, but they do not say which specific climate policies countries should pursue. 

The IPCC does not conduct its own research but instead synthesises thousands of papers on the scientific evidence of climate change.  The assessment reports are a key input into international negotiations on climate change. 

View the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change website.  

Reports

The IPCC prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change. These cover impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place. It also produces Special Reports on topics agreed to by its member governments, as well as Methodology Reports that provide guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.  

Seventh Assessment Cycle 

The IPCC is currently in the Seventh Assessment Cycle. This cycle is expected to run until 2029.

In the Seventh Assessment Cycle an Assessment Report will be produced by each of the IPCC Working Groups: 

  • Working Group I – The Physical Science Basis 
  • Working Group II – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability 
  • Working Group III – Mitigation of Climate Change 

A Synthesis Report will be produced by the end of 2029, following completion of the three Working Group reports.  

Additional products will also be produced: 

  • Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. 
  • Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers. 
  • Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage. 
  • Revision of the 1994 IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation.  

IPCC member governments have agreed this report cycle will draw on diverse knowledge and science including Indigenous People’s knowledge. Aotearoa New Zealand is working to enhance inclusion and participation of Māori in assessment processes.  

The IPCC is governed by the IPCC Bureau, led by the IPCC Chair. 

See more about the IPCC Bureau [IPCC].

Experts globally have the opportunity to participate in the IPCC process. This includes the potential to become an author, chapter scientist or expert reviewer on upcoming reports.

See call for experts for IPCC on how to become involved. 

Sixth Assessment Report

The latest completed cycle is the Sixth Assessment Report.

See more on the Sixth Assessment Report [IPCC]

The Sixth Assessment Cycle consists of three Working Group contributions and a Synthesis Report.  

Special Reports and Methodology Reports from the Sixth Assessment Cycle include: 

Key findings from latest reports 

Key findings of the Sixth Assessment Cycle Synthesis Report include: 

  • It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land. 
  • It is likely that warming will exceed 1.5 ˚C during the 21st century. This is because there is a substantial ‘emissions gap’ between progress towards the Paris Agreement targets countries have signed up to, and the emissions reductions needed by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 ˚C. 
  • Making deep, rapid, and sustained reduction in emissions and speeding up implementation of adaptation in this decade will reduce future losses and damages.  
  • Adaptation actions should focus on being flexible and inclusive, covering a range of sectors, and involve long-term planning to avoid creating more or new climate risks now or in the future. 

See IPCC report brings together the global picture on climate change.

Our support

Each IPCC member government designates a national focal point. 

The Ministry for the Environment is the national focal point for Aotearoa New Zealand.

As national focal point, we:  

  • support New Zealand expert participation in the IPCC through nominations to the IPCC Bureau
  • coordinate input from New Zealand Government agencies reviewing draft reports
  • represent New Zealand’s interests in plenaries and in reports and processes
  • promote the IPCC reports and produce communications supporting and clarifying the reports
  • manage the New Zealand Government’s contribution to the IPCC Trust Fund. The Trust Fund is used, for example, to allow for the continuation of IPCC activities and to support developing nations to participate in the IPCC’s work.  

Contact us

Contact us at nz.ipccfocalpoint@mfe.govt.nz