IPCC Assessment Reports: The Complete Picture
Understanding the comprehensive assessments that guide global climate policy
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Section 2 of 5The Assessment Process
IPCC Assessment Reports are produced approximately every 5-7 years and represent the most comprehensive synthesis of climate change science available. Each report undergoes rigorous scientific review and government approval, ensuring both scientific accuracy and policy relevance.
The assessment process involves thousands of scientists from around the world who volunteer their time to review and synthesize the peer-reviewed scientific literature. This collaborative effort ensures that IPCC reports reflect the current state of climate science knowledge.
Scientific Review
Multiple rounds of expert review ensure scientific accuracy and comprehensive coverage.
Government Approval
All governments review and approve Summary for Policymakers line by line.
Transparency
All review comments and author responses are publicly available.
Interactive Report Structure Explorer
Summary for Policymakers
High-level summary approved by governments
~20-30 pages
Technical Summary
Detailed scientific summary for experts
~50-100 pages
Assessment Chapters
In-depth assessment of scientific literature
~500-1000 pages
Annexes & Supplements
Methodologies, data, and additional information
~200-400 pages