Prof. Pavel Kabat and Prof. Leemans from Wageningen UR are appointed as review-editors of respectively the 'Freshwater Resources' and 'Detection and Attribution of Observed Impacts' chapters of Working Group II 'Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability' the fifth assessment report of IPCC. This assessment is due in 2014 and will then inform governments and the broader public on the latest findings on policy-relevant climate change research.

The IPCC was established in 1988, under the joint sponsorship of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to assess the major scientific and technical issues confronting governments and other parties interested in climate change. Through its reports, methodologies, workshops, and expert meetings, the IPCC has become a primary source of independent scientific information for governments and other stakeholders. Before the reports are released, they are subjected to extensive and open peer review, plus review by governments, before being accepted by the IPCC to ensure that they are scientifically valid, comprehensive, balanced, and relevant to deliberations of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The IPCC does not conduct or fund original research, monitor climate-related data, or make policy recommendations.

A balanced author group will draft chapters, which are thoroughly reviewed by experts and governments that consist the IPCC membership. There are three principles governing the IPCC review of all chapters in the reports. First, the IPCC Reports must represent the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic findings as comprehensive as possible. Second, a wide circulation process, ensuring representation of independent experts from all countries, should aim to involve as many experts as possible in the IPCC process. Third, the review process should be objective, open and transparent. To help ensure that Reports provide a balanced and complete assessment of current information, two Review Editors are appointed per chapter.

Review Editors will assist the Working Group in identifying reviewers for the expert review process, ensure that all substantive expert and government review comments are afforded appropriate consideration, advise lead authors on how to handle contentious/controversial issues and ensure genuine controversies are reflected adequately in the text of the Report. In order to carry out these tasks, Review Editors will need to have a broad understanding of the wider scientific and technical issues being addressed. Although responsibility for the final text remains with the Lead Authors, Review Editors will need to ensure that where significant differences of opinion on scientific issues remain, such differences are described in an annex to the Report. Review Editors must submit a written report to the Working Group Chairs or the Panel and, where appropriate, will assist in finalising the Summary for Policymakers and Synthesis Reports.

More information on IPCC, its procedures, its reports and the outline of the planned assessment reports can be found on www.ipcc.ch.