Independent review reaffirms the quality of IPCC’s work

German Research Minister Annette Schavan and Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen have welcomed the comments of the international umbrella organisation of science academies, the InterAcademy Council (IAC) on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In its report published on 30 August, the InterAcademy Council reaffirmed the quality of IPCC’s work and the scientific procedure it uses to compile its Assessment Reports. The existing regulations and procedures were deemed to be adequate, but the Council’s report found that greater care is needed in implementing them. In this context, it suggested a stronger role for the review editors, who are responsible for evaluating and duly considering the review comments on IPCC’s Assessment Reports.

German Research Minister Annette Schavan commented: "If we wish to pursue a responsible climate policy, IPCC’s important work is indispensable. The proposals made by this expert group must therefore be reviewed and implemented without delay. With our climate and energy research, Germany will continue to make an important contribution to the work of IPCC. Credibility and reliability must continue to form the basis of this collaboration. With our energy research programme, the German government will set up a research agenda at the beginning of next year, which will, amongst other things, ensure that Germany achieves its ambitious climate targets."

German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen explained: "We have now had independent confirmation that IPCC’s work is of the very highest quality. I never doubted it. Now we can concentrate once more on what is most important: acting on IPCC’s insights to make sure we actually do something to tackle climate change. It is vital that we adopt a package of decisions in Cancún next December. That includes, for example, a number of decisions on adaptation and technology that can be practically implemented straight away and others that will create the foundation for international regulations to ensure transparency regarding the reduction contributions of each country."

The review believes that fundamental changes to the IPCC’s management structure are needed. To strengthen its ability to act, the authors of the review suggest that IPCC set up an Executive Committee to act on its behalf between the plenary sessions that take place once a year. The committee of reviewers also voted in favour of appointing an Executive Director to lead the Secretariat and handle day-to-day operations of the organisation. The IAC committee further recommends that IPCC focus more on statistical uncertainties in its Assessment Reports, optimise its public relations work on the basis of a communications strategy still to be developed, and increase the transparency of its internal processes and procedures.

At the end of 2009, IPCC came under criticism as a result of errors in its reports and accusations of data manipulation. In March this year, in the light of these accusations and in response to the increasing public criticism of IPCC’s work, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon and chair of the IPCC, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, commissioned the international umbrella organisation of science academies - the InterAcademy Council (IAC) – to conduct a review. The idea was that an independent body of experts would review the way of working of scientists in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, its management structures and public relations capacity.