By Barbara Nwaiwu
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has opened registration for experts to review the First Order Draft of the Working Group I contribution to its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), as part of efforts to strengthen the scientific assessment of climate change.
The announcement was made on Monday in Geneva by the IPCC, stating that the review will focus on the latest physical science basis of climate change, including observed and projected large-scale climate changes, climate processes and feedbacks, and regional climate information.
According to the IPCC, the expert review, which is the first of several review stages, will run from August 10th to October 2nd 2026, while interested experts have until 23:59 CEST on September 25th 2026, to register.
“The strength of IPCC assessments relies on the breadth and quality of expert input from all regions of the world. We therefore encourage relevant experts worldwide to engage and contribute to this review. The review process is key to ensure that the report reflects the most robust and up-to-date scientific understanding of physical science of climate change,” said Robert Vautard, one of the Co-Chairs of IPCC Working Group I.
The panel said experts participating in the review will be invited to assess the report’s accuracy, balance, clarity and comprehensiveness. They will also be able to suggest improvements to figures and tables, identify relevant scientific literature with full citations, recommend revisions and propose ways to improve the clarity and conciseness of the text while preserving its scientific integrity.
“Expert review is a cornerstone of the IPCC assessment process. The diverse knowledge, perspectives and expertise provided by reviewers help strengthen the scientific quality, policy relevance and credibility of our reports. We warmly encourage experts to engage with the IPCC in this important effort,” said Xiaoye Zhang.
The IPCC explained that its assessment reports undergo several stages of review by experts and governments, adding that experts who submit comments on the First Order Draft will also be invited to review the Second Order Draft, while all expert reviewers will be acknowledged in the published report.
