Organizing assessments of climate research
Temperature observations, greenhouse-gas measurements and climate models created a growing body of work for governments to understand. WMO and UNEP established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1988, with General Assembly endorsement that year. Scholars from different regions and disciplines assessed existing findings on climate, impacts and responses. Bringing observations, theory and model results into shared reports required explanations of evidence and differences in understanding across the research literature.
The first assessment in 1990
Working groups addressed scientific understanding, impacts and response strategies. The first assessment in 1990 assembled atmospheric, oceanic, greenhouse-gas and modeling studies, relating observations to projections and explaining confidence in conclusions. Expert and government review preceded summaries for policymakers. Research, report chapters and summaries provided connected levels of detail, allowing readers to trace findings into their supporting discussion. International negotiations gained an assessment that participants could consult together.
Continuing assessments as research develops
Further assessments and special reports incorporated new observations, models and socioeconomic work. Author selection and review became continuing organizational tasks, with reports describing the strength of evidence and unresolved questions. Governments used the material in convention negotiations, planning and risk discussions; researchers examined how assessments represented developing knowledge. By drawing on work conducted across many institutions, the panel connected measurements, papers, review and public deliberation through regularly updated reports.