IPCC Reports

IPCC FOURTH ASSESSMENT REPORT: CLIMATE CHANGE 2007

• http://www.ipcc.ch/
• http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm

Background

The IPCC reports were created by three working groups. Each group covered one aspect of climate change that built on each prior report: science, impacts, and mitigation. Each group included a technical summary that was further condensed into a “Summary for Policy Makers.” Those summaries for policy makers are the easiest to read.

The IPCC’s last report was the Synthesis Report which further condensed all previous reports into 50 pages. It too has a “Summary for Policy Makers” that’s even shorter.

I would start by reading the synthesis report and the science FAQ from Group I. When you want further detail on a specific topic, delve into the other more exhaustive reports. The bigger reports often have more interesting information. Note that each report has source graphics you can base your work off of.

The AR4 Synthesis Report

Actually the last report, it is a summary of all the working group reports below

• Download page: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm
• Summary for Policy Makers: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf
• Full Report: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdf

Working Group I Report: “The Physical Science Basis”

• Download page: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg1.htm
• Summary for Policy Makers: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf
• Technical Summary: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-ts.pdf
• FAQs: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-faqs.pdf
• Source Graphics: http://www.ipcc.ch/graphics/gr-ar4-wg1.htm

Working Group II Report: “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”

• Download page: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg2.htm
• Summary for Policy Makers: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-spm.pdf
• Technical Summary: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-ts.pdf
• Source Graphics: http://www.ipcc.ch/graphics/gr-ar4-wg2.htm

Working Group III Report: “Mitigation of Climate Change”

• Download page: http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg3.htm
• Summary for Policy Makers: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-spm.pdf
• Technical Summary: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-ts.pdf
• Source Graphics: http://www.ipcc.ch/graphics/gr-ar4-wg3.htm

A few more thoughts

1. As you read pay attention to what interests you, what confuses you, and where you want more detail. Those are probably the topics you should focus on.
2. Think of ways you can combine multiple pieces of information to create greater understanding. Maybe two or more charts should be combined into 1, like Minard’s chart of Napolean’s march.
3. Think of ways to give context to the data. For example, the size of one football field is easier to grasp than 57,600 square feet.
4. Use other sources as needed. Be sure the source is reliable and give credit and reference appropriately.
5. Use any medium/final format you want.
6. Have fun.