15 October 2014: Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) launched the full version of its contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR4), titled ‘Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability,’ which includes a Summary for Policymakers (SPM), a Technical Summary, 30 assessment chapters, cross-chapter boxes, frequently asked questions and high-resolution graphics.

The report describes what is known and not known regarding climate change impacts that have already occurred and risks of future impacts, and integrates information regarding the range of possible climate outcomes and the role of vulnerability in humans and ecosystems. IPCC Chair Rajendra K. Pachauri said the report “characterizes climate change as a challenge in managing and reducing risks, identifying options for low-cost, high-efficacy solutions that simultaneously address climate change adaptation and sustainable development.”

The content released includes: early draft chapter versions; thousands of searchable reviewer comments on drafts; author team responses to reviewer comments; and a searchable database of non-journal literature cited in the report. It also provides the opportunity to: see who submitted review comments; and explore the processes that author teams used to evaluate comments, double-check facts and reassess interpretations. A total of 309 coordinating lead authors, lead authors and review editors, representing 70 countries, contributed to producing the report, with additional assistance from 436 contributing authors, and 1729 expert reviewers from 84 countries providing 50,492 comments on report drafts.

The Working Group II report consists of two volumes. The first contains the SPM, the Technical Summary and 20 chapters, which provide global-scale assessments of impacts, risks and adaptation options for economic sectors, human activities and natural ecosystems, and opportunities for response. Sectors addressed include freshwater resources, terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, coasts, food, urban and rural areas, energy and industry, human health and security, and livelihoods and poverty. A second volume of 10 chapters assesses risks and opportunities for response by region, including Africa, Europe, Asia, Australasia, North America, Central and South America, Polar Regions, small islands and the ocean. [Publication: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability] [IPCC Press Release]