9 June 2012: The 35th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) focused on the work resulting from the consideration of the recommendations from the InterAcademy Council (IAC) Review of the IPCC processes and procedures, namely those on: governance and management; procedures for the IPCC reports; and the communications strategy.

The session, which took place from 6-9 June 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland, was attended by over 200 participants, including representatives from governments, UN agencies, and intergovernmental and observer organizations.

On the IAC review, the Panel approved functions of the IPCC Secretariat and Technical Support Units (TSUs) and the Communications Strategy. Delegates also agreed to revisions to the Procedures for the Preparation, Review, Acceptance, Adoption, Approval and Publication of IPCC Reports, including on the role of observers in the preparation of assessment reports. These decisions concluded the Panel’s consideration of the recommendations from the IAC Review.

In addition, the Panel approved revisions to the Procedures for the Election of the IPCC Bureau and Any Task Force Bureau. Following a request from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), IPCC-35 decided to complete the review of Chapter 4 of the IPCC Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) by the end of 2013, so that it would be possible to apply the new methodologies from the beginning of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. Delegates also addressed issues such as implementation of the Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy, programme and budget, matters related to other international bodies, progress reports, and other matters.

The next IPCC session will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 23-26 September 2013. [IISD RS Coverage] [IPCC 35th Session Website] [UNEP Press Release]