The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a call for experts to participate in two upcoming co-located IPCC workshops on engaging diverse knowledge systems and on methods of assessment. The IPCC Focal Point for Italy invites expressions of interest from Italian-affiliated experts by 15 July 2025.

*Note for Italian speakers: Questa comunicazione riguarda una call per la nomina di esperti per due workshop IPCC sull’integrazione di diversi sistemi di conoscenza e sui metodi di valutazione. I lavori dei workshop si svolgeranno in inglese, per cui tutte le comunicazioni relative saranno in lingua inglese.

Nominations submitted to the IPCC Focal Point for Italy must be received by Thursday, 15 July 2025 (midnight CEST) in order to be submitted in time to the IPCC. Please note that due to our schedule it will not be possible for us to accept late responses.

The scope of the workshops is:

• to consider what systems of knowledge — including scientific, Indigenous Knowledge systems, local knowledge systems — can be accessed and assessed by the IPCC within the framework of existing principles and procedures (workshop 1 on engaging diverse knowledge systems);
• to consider the means by which such knowledge systems can be assessed — such as artificial intelligence techniques, systematic review techniques, assessment methods for ex-post evaluation evidence, and participation of Indigenous Knowledge holders (workshop 2 on methods of assessment); 
• to consider the extent to which such means of synthesis and assessment may be conducted by the IPCC itself or by the knowledge holders and research communities who generate the literature on which the IPCC relies (workshops 1 and 2).

The workshops were approved by the IPCC Panel at its Sixty-second Session held from 24 to 28 February 2025 in Hangzhou, China. Discussions are under way for these three-day workshops to be held in the first quarter of 2026 at a venue yet to be determined.

Workshop 1 – The workshop on engaging wider knowledge systems has the following specific aims:

• to address how Indigenous Knowledge systems could be accessed and assessed by the IPCC, in particular considering effective and equitable engagement of Indigenous Knowledge holders and building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to address how Iocal knowledge could be assessed by the IPCC, building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to make recommendations for funding agencies as to how to support the engagement of knowledge holders in the IPCC programme of work.

Workshop 2 – The workshop on methods of assessment has the following specific aims:

• to make recommendations as to how systematic review methods could be applied within and outside IPCC assessments and how they could contribute to strengthening established assessment practices including uncertainty assessments;
• to make recommendations to the IPCC, the Bureau and authors as to how new and extended methods of assessment such as artificial intelligence might be built into the IPCC programme of work;
• to address how ex-post evaluation evidence could be assessed by the IPCC, building on experience built up in other fora as appropriate;
• to identify precautionary measures or limitations that might be necessary to ensure adherence to IPCC’s principles and procedures for the preparation of reports; and
• to make recommendations for scientific communities as to how new and extended methods could be used to develop literature which can more easily be assessed by the IPCC.

An aim cutting across both workshops is to make recommendations as to how new and extended methods of assessment could be applied to different types of knowledge systems (such as scientific, Indigenous, local, practitioner).

Nominations

Individuals participating in either workshop would be selected to ensure a balanced and diverse representation. Selection criteria include the relevance and breadth of scientific, technical, and socio-economic expertise, as well as achieving regional and intra-regional balance. Efforts will also be made to include a mix of experts with and without prior experience with the IPCC, while maintaining gender balance throughout the group.

The IPCC Focal Point for Italy is responsible for collecting all nominations and will upload eligible nominations that meet the criteria onto the website. The final selection will be carried out by the IPCC Bureau.

The nomination process must include:

• Filling an Excel form (please note that the form has two tabs);
• Uploading an updated CV (2 to 4 pages – max file size is 2MB);
• Listing 3 selected publications (in the Excel form).

Nominations that do not satisfy these criteria will not be considered in the selection process.

Nominations for the workshops are welcome from knowledge holders, practitioners, and scientists with the relevant expertise.

For the workshop on Engaging Diverse Knowledge Systems, this would be expertise on the application and interpretation of diverse forms of knowledge, including:

• Indigenous Knowledge systems, especially from those who are members of Indigenous Peoples communities;
• local knowledge (the understandings and skills developed by individuals and populations, specific to the places where they live);
• practitioner knowledge (e.g. policymakers, NGO staff and community leaders who have experience of formulating strategies, implementing and/or evaluating policies and other climate actions);
• scientific knowledge (including social sciences and the humanities).

For the workshop on Methods of Assessment, expertise would include:

• artificial intelligence to support assessment processes (including large language models, machine-learning tools and data for literature review);
• systematic review of scientific and grey literature, and other forms of knowledge;
• ex-post evaluation of climate action or other actions/policies/interventions relevant for climate change.

Nominations are particularly encouraged from Indigenous Peoples representatives, those whose expertise bridges the two workshops, and those with relevant experience from other global environmental assessments.

How to apply

The IPCC Focal Point for Italy invites expressions of interest from Italian-affiliated experts and will submit nominations meeting the expertise criteria and minimum application standards to the IPCC official platform.

Before applying please ensure that your affiliated institution supports your participation and will cover the travel costs to attend.

To be considered for participation, please follow these steps: 

• Download the .xlsx form

Fill out the Excel nomination form (Please make sure to select max. 5 chapters listed in the report outline);

• Send an email message to: fp@cmcc.it including:

o   Excel nomination form filled in all the required fields. (Kindly rename the file as follows: Last name_form.xlsx);

o   An updated CV ( 4 pages – max file size is 2MB – .pdf format). (Kindly rename the file as follows: Last name_CV.pdf);

• Send the nomination form and CV to fp@cmcc.it in .xlsx and .pdf format respectively, by Thursday, 15 July 2025 (midnight CEST).

Nominations that do not follow these instructions will not be considered in the selection process. Please note the importance of adhering to the file requirements otherwise the submission will not be eligible for submission to the IPCC.

 

Please note that the costs for participating in the meeting will be covered by the participant’s affiliated institution.