IPCC AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT: TOWARD THE THIRD ASSESSMENT REPORT

Abstract

In preparing the Third Assessment Report (due in 2001), the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was also assigned the task of assessing "methodological aspects of cross-cutting issues such as equity, discount rates, and decision making frameworks". The article analyses the task; points out the gaps in IPCC's past approaches to policy and decision making methodologies; and outlines elements of a paradigm that effectively bridges science and decision making, especially in the area of applying IPCC's global policies on the national and local levels, within the ultimate goal of sustainable development.