What is the IPCC Assessment Report Process?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report (AR) process involves producing comprehensive evaluations of the current state of climate science, assessing knowledge on climate change, its impacts, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation. These reports are the result of extensive collaboration among scientists worldwide and are developed in phases over several years.

The process includes multiple stages:

1. Scoping: Defining the structure and scope of the report.
2. Author Selection: Choosing a diverse group of leading scientists to serve as authors.
3. Drafting: Authors write the report, synthesizing findings from thousands of peer-reviewed studies.
4. Review: The draft undergoes multiple rounds of review by experts and governments, ensuring it is robust and comprehensive.
5. Approval: Governments approve the Summary for Policymakers line by line, while the full report is accepted.

Assessment Reports are released approximately every 5 to 7 years, providing an updated synthesis of climate science to inform global climate policy and negotiations.