July 2011: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released the draft report of its 33rd session and is calling for comments by Governments by 15 September 2011.

The report includes descriptions of the acceptance of the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN), discussions on the review of the IPCC processes and procedures, the work plan of the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories, and matters related to the UNFCCC and other international bodies. The session also noted that the first joint session of the IPCC Working Groups I and II to approve the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation is scheduled to be held from 14-17 November 2011, and that the 34th Session of the IPCC would be held on 18-19 November 2011, in a country in East Africa. The 33rd Session of the IPCC was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 10-13 May 2011.

The IPCC decisions on the Review of IPCC Processes and Procedures were presented as a summary of the decisions of the IPCC 32nd and 33rd Sessions, with a recommendation of the InterAcademy Council followed by the decisions from the IPCC Sessions. Decisions are summarized on procedures, governance and management, conflict of interest policy and communications strategies.

On procedures, decisions, recommendations and deliberations are on: the selection of participants to scoping meetings; selection of coordinating lead authors and lead authors; sources of data and literature; handling the full range of views; report review; further assuring quality of the review; confidentiality of draft reports; summary for policymakers; procedures for handling possible errors; IPCC evaluation of evidence and treatment of uncertainty; IPCC guidance material; and extension of mandate of the Task Group on Procedures.

On governance and management, the decisions and discussions reflect recommendations on: the establishment of an Executive Committee; terms of office of the IPCC Chair, Working Group and Task Force Co-Chairs and IPCC Vice-Chairs; issues with the potential creation of an Executive Director; terms of reference of the Bureau; terms of reference of the Secretariat; and extension of the mandate of the Task Group on Governance and Management.

The IPCC also released guidance on an IPCC Communications Strategy and Conflict of Interest Policy. [IPCC 33 Draft Report] [IPCC Review of Decisions Related to Procedures] [IPCC Review of Decisions related to Governance and Management] [IPCC Review of Decisions related to Communications Strategy] [IPCC Review of Decisions related to Conflict of Interest] [IPCC 33 Session Documents] [IISD RS Coverage of IPCC 33]