The Fifth Assessment Report and the Paris Agreement

Find out how our research and researchers influenced the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, which led to the groundbreaking Paris Agreement on climate policy and action.

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The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was released in instalments through three Working Groups throughout 2013 and 2014. These Assessment Reports, released every 5 to 7 years, assess the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaption and mitigation. 

These are the most comprehensive scientific reports about climate change produced worldwide and have been read and approved by scientists and government officials from over 195 countries. 

Thirty of our researchers made significant contributions to AR5. The IPCC also exclusively selected several of our researchers as Lead Authors, Contributing Authors and Expert Reviewers due to their world-leading expertise.

The AR5 report provided the scientific foundation for the Paris Agreement, first-ever universal, legally binding global climate change agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. 

The AR5 report and the Paris Agreement, which is informed by and cites much our research, feed directly into international climate policymaking. The Paris Agreement also aims to strengthen countries' ability to deal with climate change impacts and support them in their efforts.  

The work creating these Assessment Reports is shared among three Working Groups, a Task Force and a Task Group.  Each Working Group Report is comprised of multiple chapters across a range of topics, and our researchers were heavily involved in all three:

This group aims at assessing the physical scientific basis of the climate system and climate change.

  • Professor Gabi Hegerl was selected as:
    • Draft Contributing Author (Summary)
    • Lead Author for 'Chapter 10: Detection and attribution of climate change from global to regional'
    • Contributing Author for 'Chapter 12: Long-term climate change: projections, commitments and irreversibility'
    • Expert Reviewer
  • Professor David Stevenson was selected as:
    • Contributing Author for ‘Chapter 8: Anthropogenic and natural radiative forcing’
    • Contributing Author for ‘Chapter 11: Near-term climate change: projections and ​​​​​​predictability’
    • Contributor to ‘Annex II: Climate system scenario tables’
    • Expert Reviewer
  • Dr Andrew Schurer was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 10: Detection and attribution of climate change from global to regional'
  • Dr Peter Alexander was selected as Contributing Author
  • Professor Ruth Doherty was selected as Expert Reviewer
  • Dr Massimo Bollasina was selected as Expert Reviewer
  • Professor Richard Essery was selected as Expert Reviewer
  • Professor Dave Reay was selected as a Expert Reviewer 

Our research

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report. You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below:

Professor Gabi HegerlProfessor David StevensonDr Andrew Schurer 
Professor Ruth DohertyDr Massimo BollasinaProfessor Richard Essery
Professor Simon TettDr Daniel GoldbergProfessor Peter Nienow
Professor Rob BinghamProfessor Paul PalmerProfessor Alexander Tudhope
Professor Dave Reay  

You can find out more about the IPCC by clicking the button below:


This group assesses the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change, negative and positive consequences of climate change and options for adapting to it.

  • Professor Mark Rounsevell was selected as Lead Author
  • Dr Meriwether Wilson was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 23: Europe'
  • Professor Marc J Metzger was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 23: Europe'
  • Professor Murray Roberts was selected as:
    • Contributing Author for 'Chapter 6: Ocean Systems'
    • Expert Reviewer

Our research

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report. You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below:

Professor Mark RounsevellProfessor Marc J MetzgerDr Meriwether Wilson
Professor Murray RobertsProfessor Andrew Dugmore Dr Isla Myers-Smith 
Professor Dave ReayProfessor Alexander TudhopeDr James Paterson
Professor Jaboury GhazoulProfessor Edward MitchardProfessor Dan van der Horst 
Dr Saran Sohi Professor Simon TettProfessor Gabi Hegerl
Dr Simon ShackleyProfessor Paul PalmerProfessor Ruth Doherty
Professor David Stevenson  

You can find out more about the IPCC by clicking the button below:


This group focuses on climate change mitigation, assessing methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

  • Dr Saran Sohi was selected as Contributing Author for 'Chapter 11: Agriculture, Forestry and other land use.'

The IPCC recognised and cited the work by our researchers throughout this report.

You can find out more about their research under each of their profiles below:

Dr Saran SohiDr Simon ShackleyProfessor Stuart Haszeldine
Dr Stuart GilfillanProfessor Jaboury GhazoulProfessor Gabi Hegerl
Professor Dave ReayProfessor Paul PalmerProfessor David Stevenson
Professor Edward MitchardProfessor Dan van der Horst Professor Rachel Wood
Dr Vivian Scott  

You can find out more about the IPCC by clicking the button below:


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