Episode 1: IPCC: Reporting Climate Science to the World

The IPCC:

Reporting Climate Science to the World

episode summary:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, commonly referred to by its acronym IPCC, is the leading force of the United Nations in advancing our understanding of climate change, its consequences, and the measures needed to combat it. In the realm of climate communication, IPCC reports stand as some of the most influential publications on the global stage. Since its inception in 1988, the flagship reports it has produced have played a foundational role in molding public sentiment and policymaking on climate change.

But how are these reports developed? What collaborative efforts are made by experts in climate science, communication, and policy to bring them to life? In this episode of Climate Decoded, we’re asking: How does the IPCC, through its reports, influence global climate policy? With the guidance of climate and communication specialists, an exclusive visit to the IPCC headquarters, and a brief excursion to a lakeside Swiss city to meet an IPCC scientist, we explore the three essential stages of the IPCC report creation process.

Firstly, we delve into how climate research is collected and synthesized by IPCC authors. Secondly, we illuminate the methodical procedure through which this information is consolidated and communicated in the form of an IPCC report. Thirdly, we shed light on the role of global policymakers in the process. And while demystifying these stages, we cast a discerning eye on some of the frequently debated aspects of IPCC report production, such as the inclusivity of voices in the process and the delicate practice of offering policy recommendations without prescribing specific actions.