IPCC Reports
Since its foundation the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been working on summarizing in its reports the current scientific knowledge on the world‘s climate and the factors that influence it. These reports are freely available.
Download links to the most recent world climate reports
(Latest update: October 2023)
| Report | Year | Summary for Policymakers | Technical Summary / Longer Report | Full Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR5 | 2014 | AR5-SPM-EN | — | AR5-FULL-EN |
| SR15 | 2018 | SR15-SPM-EN | SR15-TS-EN | SR15-FULL-EN |
| SRCCL | 2019 | SRCCL-SPM-EN | SRCCL-TS-EN | SRCCL-FULL-EN |
| SROCC | 2019 | SROCC-SPM-EN | SROCC-TS-EN | SROCC-FULL-EN |
| AR6 – Part 1 | 2021 | AR6-WGI-SPM-EN | AR6-WGI-TS-EN | AR6-WGI-FULL-EN |
| AR6 – Part 2 | 2022 | AR6-WGII-SPM-EN | AR6-WGII-TS-EN | AR6-WGII-FULL-EN |
| AR6 – Part 3 | 2022 | AR6-WGIII-SPM-EN | AR6-WGIII-TS-EN | AR6-WGIII-FULL-EN |
| AR6 – Synthesis Report | 2023 | AR6-SYR-SPM-EN | AR6-SYR-LR-EN | AR6-SYR-FULL-EN |
This tabular overview should allow fast access to the most recent world climate reports.
The links refer to the official downloads of the IPCC‘s website.
We want to base current discussions objectively on scientific facts.
We hope that every relevant politician has read at least the “Summary for Policymakers” of the current reports. Conversations with political advisers and information from the media can not fully replace personally reading the reports or their summaries. Every media performs a selection of information and focuses only on some individual aspects. To get a mostly complete picture of the information one has to read the reports or their summaries by one‘s selves.
IPCC Reports / Topics
AR5 – Fifth Assessment Report
The report summarized the current state of knowledge at its time.
SR15 – Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C
The report presents the more drastic consequences of a global warming by 2°C in comparison to a warming of 1.5°C. In addition it specifies what has to be done to limit the warming to 1.5°C.
SRCCL – Special Report on Climate Change and Land
The report focuses on the effects of global warming for land masses and their ecosystem.
SROCC – Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
The report focuses on the effects of global warming on the oceans and cryosphere.
AR6 – Sixth Assessment Report
The report is the latest summary of what is known about the world‘s climate and incorporates the information of the special reports, which were published since the publication of the Fifth Assessment Report. The report consists of three parts that were published in 2021 and 2022.
- Part 1 (WGI) summarizes the physical basics of climate change. The report contains estimates for the carbon budgets for different rates of warming and different propabilities.
Part 1 was published in 2021. - Part 2 (WGII) describes the impact, effects and necessary adaptations of various degress of warming. Parts of the report are also describing results of warming that are today already affecting the lifes of many people.
Part 2 was published on the 28th of February 2022. - Part 3 (WGIII) describes measures to reduce the rate of warming in great detail.
Part 3 was published on the 4ᵗʰ of April 2022.
In 2021 a preliminary version of Part 3 was leaked on https://scientistrebellion.com because scientists feared that it might be watered down by politicians. Spoiler: It was.¹ - The Synthesis Report was published on the 20ᵗʰ of March 2023.
Structure of the reports
Typically the reports consist of multiple parts
-
The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) is a short summary of the report that is illustrated with many pictures and graphics. Usually it consists only of a few dozen pages.
The SPMs are to some degree subject to political influence.¹ Scientists do have a right to veto and can deny misrepresentations, but not the dilution of the wording. -
The Technical Summary (TS) is a much more detailled summary. It contains more information and is better in explaining complex mechanisms.
Sometimes the reports are complemented with Supplementary Material (SM) and attachments, such as tables, a glossary to explain technical terms and much more.