Call for nominations of experts for IPCC workshops – seventh assessment cycle

Background

The two workshops were approved by the IPCC Panel at its 62nd Session (Hangzhou, China, 24 to 28 February, 2025). Discussions are under way for these three-day workshops to be held in collocation in the first quarter of 2026 at a venue yet to be determined.

The scope of the workshops:

• Workshop 1 on Engaging diverse knowledge systems: to consider what systems of knowledge - including scientific, Indigenous Knowledge systems, local knowledge systems - can be accessed and assessed by the IPCC within the framework of existing principles and procedures;
• Workshop 2 on Methods of assessment: to consider the means by which such knowledge systems can be assessed - such as artificial intelligence techniques, systematic review techniques, assessment methods for ex-post evaluation evidence, and participation of Indigenous Knowledge holders;
• Workshops 1 and 2: to consider the extent to which such means of synthesis and assessment may be conducted by the IPCC itself or by the knowledge holders and research communities who generate the literature on which the IPCC relies.

Specific aims of each workshop as well as expertise sought after from participants are presented in more detail below. The full description of the workshops, as agreed by the IPCC Panel, is available on the IPCC website.

Aims of the Workshops

Specific aims of Workshop I on Engaging wider knowledge systems are:

• to address how Indigenous Knowledge systems could be accessed and assessed by the IPCC, in particular considering effective and equitable engagement of Indigenous Knowledge holders and building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to address how Iocal knowledge could be assessed by the IPCC, building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to make recommendations for funding agencies as to how to support the engagement of knowledge holders in the IPCC programme of work.

The specific aims of Workshop II on Methods of assessment are:

• to make recommendations as to how systematic review methods could be applied within and outside IPCC assessments and how they could contribute to strengthening established assessment practices including uncertainty assessments;
• to make recommendations to the IPCC, the Bureau and authors as to how new and extended methods of assessment such as artificial intelligence might be built into the IPCC programme of work;
• to address how ex-post evaluation evidence could be assessed by the IPCC, building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to identify precautionary measures or limitations that might be necessary to ensure adherence to IPCC's principles and procedures for the preparation of reports; and
• to make recommendations for scientific communities as to how new and extended methods could be used to develop literature which can more easily be assessed by the IPCC.

An aim cutting across both workshops is to make recommendations as to how new and extended methods of assessment could be applied to different types of knowledge system (such as scientific, Indigenous, local, practitioner).

Participation (including sought expertise)

Individuals participating in either workshop will be selected with regard to:

• the relevant range of scientific, technical and socio-economic views and expertise;
• regional and intra-regional balance;
• a mixture of experts with and without previous experience of IPCC; and
• gender balance.

Nominations for the workshops are welcome from knowledge holders, practitioners, and scientists with the relevant expertise (see below).

For Workshop I - Engaging Diverse Knowledge Systems, expertise are sought on the application and interpretation of diverse forms of knowledge, including:

• Indigenous Knowledge systems, especially from those who are members of Indigenous Peoples communities;
• local knowledge (the understandings and skills developed by individuals and populations, specific to the places where they live);
• practitioner knowledge (e.g. policymakers, NGO staff and community leaders who have experience of formulating strategies, implementing and/or evaluating policies and other climate actions);
• scientific knowledge (including social sciences and the humanities).

For Workshop II - Methods of Assessment, expertise should include:

• artificial intelligence to support assessment processes (including large language models, machine-learning tools and data for literature review);
• systematic review of scientific and grey literature, and other forms of knowledge;
• ex-post evaluation of climate action or other actions/policies/interventions relevant for climate change.

Nominations are particularly encouraged from Indigenous Peoples representatives, those whose expertise bridges the two workshops, and those with relevant experience from other global environmental assessments.

It is expected that Member countries and Observer Organizations that are in a position to do so provide travel and subsistence support for the participants to attend the workshops. Where one may not be in a position to provide such support, the IPCC Trust Fund will endeavour to provide travel and subsistence support for participants from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. However, it should be noted that due to major financial constraints of the IPCC this type of support may be restricted to a limited number of individuals and that the ongoing provision of this support cannot be guaranteed. ISC is not able to provide any travel or subsistence support.

How to nominate

Experts from within the ISC membership can be nominated for the workshops through the ISC by completing the online nomination form below. (Please download and complete the IPCC nomination form in the first instance, which you will need to upload in the ISC nomination form below along with the nominee's current curriculum vitae (in English, maximum length: four pages). Please note that the IPCC nomination form covers both workshops in the same form, be sure to complete BOTH tabs in the IPCC nomination).

The deadline for nominations is 13 July 2025 at 00:00 CEST. The ISC will submit all complete applications to the IPCC for consideration. (Please note that incomplete or incorrect nominations cannot be accepted).

Participants to the workshops will be selected by the IPCC Chair, with advice from the IPCC's Scientific Steering Committee. The IPCC Secretariat will contact successful candidates directly.