IPCC reports

The main activity of the IPCC is to provide in regular intervals Assessment Reports of the state of knowledge on climate change. The latest one is "Climate Change 2007", the Fourth IPCC Assessment Report.

The IPCC produces also Special Reports; Methodology Reports; Technical Papers; and Supporting Material, often in response to requests from the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, or from other environmental Conventions.

The preparation of all IPCC reports and publications follows strict procedures agreed by the Panel. The work is guided by the IPCC Chair and the Working Group and Task Force Co-chairs. Hundreds of experts from all over the world are contributing to the preparation of IPCC reports as authors, contributors and reviewers. The composition of author teams shall reflect a range of views, expertise and geographical representation. Review by governments and experts are essential elements of the preparation of IPCC reports.

How the IPCC reports can be obtained

A number of IPCC reports are published commercially and can be obtained from the publishers or leading book shops. Some full reports and the summaries of many reports are translated into the official UN languages. Most IPCC Reports published since 1997, including non-English versions, are available online on this website and on CD-ROMs. Translations into some non UN languages are also made available on this website.

Hard copies of the Summaries for Policymakers, Technical Summaries, Synthesis Reports and Technical Papers in English and in other UN languages, and CD-ROMs of the full reports, can be obtained free of charge from the IPCC Secretariat. A limited number of hard copies of the full reports are also available on request from the IPCC Secretariat for developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Methodology Reports and Supporting Material can be obtained from the IPCC Secretariat or a Technical Support Unit as indicated.

For more information on copyright permission please go to Home - Copyright.

Assessment Reports

In accordance with its mandate and as reaffirmed in various decisions by the Panel, the IPCC prepares at regular intervals comprehensive Assessment Reports of scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of human induced climate change, potential impacts of climate change and options for mitigation and adaptation. Four Assessment Reports have been completed in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007. The Fourth Assessment Report "Climate Change 2007" is composed of 4 volumes and various contributions, that are posted here as soon as they become available. The fourth and last volume - the Synthesis report - was launched in November 2007.

Assessment Reports are normally published in several volumes, one for each of the Working Groups of the IPCC and, subject to the decision by the Panel, a Synthesis Report. Each of the Working Group volumes is composed of individual chapters, an optional technical summary and a Summary for Policymakers.  Synthesis Reports synthesize materials contained within the Assessment Reports, eventually integrating them with information coming from the Special Reports as well. They are written in a non-technical style suitable for policymakers. They are composed of a longer report and a Summary for Policymakers.

Special Reports

Special Reports have been prepared on topics such as aviation, regional impacts of climate change, technology transfer, emissions scenarios, land use, land use change and forestry, carbon dioxide capture and storage and on the relationship between safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system. They are subject to the same writing, review and approval process as Assessment Reports.

The reports' Summaries for Policymakers

Each IPCC Assessment and Special Report has a Summary for Policymakers (SPM) which is widely distributed. The SPM text is subject to line by line discussions and approval at a Plenary Session. The SPM has to be consistent with the factual material contained in the full report. Lead Authors of the report participate in the Session to provide explanations and clarifications and assist to ensure that consistency between the Summary for Policymakers and the full report is achieved.

Methodology Reports

Methodology Reports provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories. They are aimed to meet the inventory reporting requirements of Parties to the UNFCCC. Recently the IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories have been published.

Technical Papers

Technical Papers are prepared on topics for which an objective international scientific/technical perspective is essential. They are based on material already in the IPCC Assessment Reports and Special Reports and their preparation follows accelerated procedures. Currently a Technical Paper on Climate Change and Water is planned for release in early 2008.

Supporting Material 

Workshops and Expert Meetings may be held to support the IPCC assessment process, to scope an IPCC Report or to advise the Panel e.g. on whether to prepare a Special Report. The IPCC may also co-sponsor workshops if its activity will be useful to the work of the IPCC. 

Proceedings of IPCC workshops and expert meetings are normally published as IPCC supporting material. Supporting material is not subject to formal IPCC review processes. For some IPCC expert meetings or scoping meetings only summary reports are prepared, which can be found under meetings and documentation.