The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge about climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

The IPCC does not conduct its own research. Instead, it reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It is an interdisciplinary body, drawing on experts from a wide range of scientific backgrounds, including climatology, oceanography, atmospheric science, glaciology, hydrology, environmental science, ecology, economics and social sciences.

The IPCC operates on a voluntary basis, and does not have any regulatory or enforcement powers. Its role is to provide governments and decision makers with the scientific evidence they need to understand and address the risks of climate change.

The IPCC's work is divided into three working groups:

* Working Group I assesses the physical science basis of climate change, including the causes of climate change, the observed and projected impacts of climate change, and the potential for future impacts.

* Working Group II assesses the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, human health and socio-economic systems, and assesses the options for mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts.

* Working Group III assesses the global response to climate change, including the technological, economic, social and institutional issues involved in addressing climate change.

The IPCC produces a series of assessment reports, which are the most comprehensive and authoritative scientific assessments of climate change available. The reports are reviewed and approved by scientists and government representatives, and are used by governments, businesses and other stakeholders to inform policy and decision-making.

The IPCC's work has been instrumental in raising awareness of climate change and in stimulating action to address the risks of climate change. The IPCC has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to "build and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".