The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations body tasked with assessing global climate science and producing insightful reports that inform policymakers about climate change, its impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.  

From 2023 to 2029, IPCC is embarking on its seventh assessment cycle to produce the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) which comprises of contributions from Working Groups I, II and III, as well as one Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, and two Methodology Reports. 

The preparation of these IPCC reports relies on Coordinating Lead Authors who gather inputs from teams of authors. These roles are critical to the delivery of the reports. Their role is enabled by Chapter Scientists, who manage references, assist with coordination and foster contributions from diverse members. However, these roles are voluntary, leaving their provision dependent on Coordinating Lead Authors’ access to external funding. This disproportionately affects the equitable participation of Coordinating Lead Authors from the Global South who often lack access to external funds. 

This project thus addresses the challenge by funding Chapter Scientists to support the Coordinating Lead Authors from the Global South involved in the preparation of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Chapter Scientists from the Global South will be recruited to support them in the development of the report. The project team will ensure that Chapter Scientists participate actively in the process and will strengthen their research, leadership and knowledge-brokering capacities through tailored training and peer learning opportunities. This initiative will bridge gaps in equity and representation, fostering a more balanced and inclusive assessment process that addresses the priorities relevant to stakeholders tasked with advancing climate action in cities, especially across the Global South. 

This project is part of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative, a UK-Canada framework research program aiming to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.