Contributing to the IPCC: guidance for UK experts
Published 21 August 2025
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About the IPCC
The IPCC is a scientific body of the United Nations that was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It draws on the expertise of thousands of scientists from around the world to assess the science of climate change. The IPCC provides policy makers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports are relevant to policy, but they are politically neutral and not prescriptive.
The Panel comprises representatives of member governments. At the start of an assessment cycle, the Panel elects a Bureau, which provides scientific and technical guidance to the Panel. The Panel and Bureau are supported by the Secretariat and Technical Support Units. Member governments are represented by a national Focal Point, who, along with observer organisations, can nominate experts to contribute to IPCC assessments.
You can read more about the structure of the IPCC on their website.
The IPCC is now in its Seventh Assessment Cycle, which is expected to run until approximately 2029.
Read the latest news from the IPCC.
UK Engagement with the IPCC
The UK government fully supports the work of the IPCC. It regards the IPCC’s assessments as the most authoritative view on the science of climate change. IPCC reports undergo an unparalleled, rigorous and transparent international preparation and peer-review process by scientific experts and governments before they are published. The governments of the IPCC’s 195 member countries, which includes the UK, are involved in all the major steps of this process. This includes informing the scope of the IPCC’s reports, nominating UK experts to serve as IPCC authors, reviewing the reports, and their final approval.
The UK’s IPCC Focal Point is based within the Climate Science team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The Focal Point is responsible for nominating national experts as contributors to the IPCC’s work for consideration and selection by the IPCC Bureau, and coordinating the UK government’s input to IPCC products and processes.
Roles and selection process
There are different roles that contribute to the production of IPCC reports. The following roles require nomination by national Focal Points, an observer organization or a member of the IPCC Bureau. The IPCC Bureau is responsible for final selection:
- experts who attend IPCC workshops on specialist topics
- Scoping Experts, who contribute to drafting an outline for a report
- coordinating Lead Authors, who are responsible for coordinating the production report sections and/or chapters
- Lead Authors, who are responsible for the production of designated sections within a chapter
- Review Editors, who help identify Expert Reviewers, ensure all review comments on a draft report are appropriately considered, and advise Lead Authors on how to handle contentious or controversial issues
Nomination process
If you are an expert based in the UK seeking to contribute to the IPCC for any of the above roles, you can apply to the UK National Focal Point to be considered for nomination when a call opens. Nomination calls are announced on the IPCC website and a page with details on how to apply will be published on GOV.UK. Once you have applied, the Focal Point will review your application. If you meet the selection criteria, the Focal Point will nominate you. Selection of experts is conducted by the relevant IPCC Bureau in line with the IPCC Principles and Procedures. The IPCC will contact you directly if you are successful in your application. Kindly note that the final selection of experts is decided by the IPCC Bureau, and nomination by the Focal Point does not guarantee selection by the IPCC.
Other expert roles
The following roles do not require nomination, and calls will not be published on GOV.UK.
- Contributing Authors, who provide specific knowledge or expertise in a given area
- Chapter Scientists, who provide technical and logistical support to author teams
- Expert Reviewers, who comment on drafts of a report: each report undergoes an Expert Review of the First Order Draft, and a Government and Expert Review of the Second Order Draft
For Contributing Authors and Chapter Scientists, recruitment is coordinated directly by the Coordinating Lead Authors or Technical Support Units. If you are interested in these roles, please get in touch with the relevant Coordinating Lead Authors or Technical Support Units:
- Working Group I Technical Support Unit:
- Working Group II Technical Support Unit
- Working Group IIII Technical Support Unit
- Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
The IPCC will issue a press release with details on how to apply as an Expert Reviewer when the review period begins. For more information on the responsibilities of any of these roles, please consult the IPCC website.
Opportunities for UK experts to engage with the IPCC
Currently open calls
- there are currently no calls open
Future calls
- nomination of Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, and Review Editors for the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage – to open in Autumn 2025 (TBC)
Closed calls
- nomination of Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, and Review Editors for the seventh Assessment Report (AR7)
- nomination of authors for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities
- nomination of authors for the Methodology Report on Short-lived Climate Forcers
- nomination of experts to attend the Scoping Meeting for the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage
- nomination of experts to attend the Scoping Meeting for the AR7
- nomination of experts to attend the Scoping Meeting for the Methodology Report on Short-lived Climate Forcers
- nomination of experts to attend the Scoping Meeting for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities