The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientificintergovernmental body,[1][2] set up at the request of member governments.[ ] !

t "as first established in 1#$$ by t"o %nited &ations organi'ations, the (orld )eteorological *rgani'ation (()*) and the %nited &ations +nvironment ,rogramme (%&+,), and later endorsed by the %nited &ations -eneral .ssembly through /esolution 0 12 . !ts mission is to provide comprehensive scientific assessments of current scientific, technical and socio3economic information "orld"ide about the ris4 of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and socio3 economic consequences, and possible options for adapting to these consequences or mitigating the effects.[0] !t is chaired by/a5endra 6. ,achauri. Thousands of scientists and other e7perts contribute (on a voluntary basis, "ithout payment from the !,88)[2] to "riting and revie"ing reports, "hich are revie"ed by representatives from all the governments, "ith a 9ummary for ,olicyma4ers being sub5ect to line3by3line approval by all participating governments. Typically this involves the governments of more than 12: countries.[;] The !,88 does not carry out its o"n original research, nor does it do the "or4 of monitoring climate or related phenomena itself. . main activity of the !,88 is publishing special reports on topics relevant to the implementation of the %nited &ations <rame"or4 8onvention on 8limate 8hange (%&<888),[0] an international treaty that ac4no"ledges the possibility of harmful climate change. !mplementation of the %&<888 led eventually to the 6yoto ,rotocol. The !,88 bases its assessment mainly on peer revie"ed and published scientific literature. [=] )embership of the !,88 is open to all members of the ()* and %&+,.[$] The !,88 provides an internationally accepted authority on climate change, [#] producing reports "hich have the agreement of leading climate scientists and the consensus of participating governments. !t has provided authoritative policy advice "ith far3reaching implications for economics and lifestyles. -overnments have been slo" to implement the advice. [ ] The 2::= &obel ,eace ,ri'e "as shared, in t"o equal parts, bet"een the !,88 and .l -ore.[1:]

Aims[edit]
The principles that the !,88 operates under[11] are set out in the relevant ()* +7ecutive 8ouncil and %&+, -overning 8ouncil resolutions and decisions, as "ell as on actions in support of the %&<888 process. The aims of the !,88 are to assess scientific information relevant to> [0] 1. ?uman3induced climate change, 2. The impacts of human3induced climate change, . *ptions for adaptation and mitigation.

Operations[edit]
The chair of the !,88 is /a5endra 6. ,achauri, elected in )ay 2::2. The previous chair "as /obert (atson. The chair is assisted by an elected bureau including vice3chairs, "or4ing group co3chairs and a secretariat. The !,88 ,anel is composed of representatives appointed by governments and organi'ations. ,articipation of delegates "ith appropriate e7pertise is encouraged. ,lenary sessions of the !,88 and !,88 (or4ing groups are held at the level of government representatives. &on -overnmental and !ntergovernmental *rgani'ations may be allo"ed to attend as observers.

9essions of the !,88 @ureau, "or4shops, e7pert and lead authors meetings are by invitation only.[12] .ttendance at the 2:: meeting included 2: government officials and climate change e7perts. .fter the opening ceremonies, closed plenary sessions "ere held. [1 ] The meeting report[10] states there "ere 22 persons in attendance at 9essions "ith about seven3eighths of participants being from governmental organi'ations.[10] There are several ma5or groups> !,88 ,anel> )eets in plenary session about once a year and controls the organi'ationAs structure, procedures, and "or4 programme. The ,anel is the !,88 corporate entity. 8hair> +lected by the ,anel. 9ecretariat> *versees and manages all activities. 9upported by %&+, and ()*. @ureau> +lected by the ,anel. 8haired by the 8hair. : members include !,88 Bice3 8hairs, 8o38hairs and Bice38hairs of (or4ing -roups and Tas4 <orce. (or4ing -roups> +ach has t"o 8o38hairs, one from the developed and one from developing "orld, and a technical support unit. (or4ing -roup !> .ssesses scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change. 8o38hairs> Thomas 9toc4er, Cahe Din (or4ing -roup !!> .ssesses vulnerability of socio3economic and natural systems to climate change, consequences, and adaptation options. 8o38hairs> 8hris <ield and Bicente @arros (or4ing -roup !!!> .ssesses options for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and other"ise mitigating climate change. 8o38hairs>*ttmar +denhofer, Eouba 9o4ona and /amon ,ichs3)adruga Tas4 <orce on &ational -reenhouse -as !nventories

The !,88 receives funding from %&+,, ()*, and its o"n Trust <und for "hich it solicits contributions from governments. !ts secretariat is hosted by the ()*, in -eneva.