IPCC: Call for Experts to Participate in Two IPCC Workshops on Engaging Diverse Knowledge Systems and on Methods of Assessment

These three-day workshops are to be held in the first quarter of 2026 at a venue yet to be determined.

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);
• 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);
• 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).

Deadline for nomination

For timely nomination experts should fill out the nomination form until 2 July 2025 (see below).

Who is eligible for nomination

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.

The full description of the workshops, as agreed by the IPCC Panel, is available on the IPCC website: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2025/03/Doc.-7-Rev-1-Proposals-for-EM-Workshops-engaging-and-methods-of-assessment.pdf

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. The application of women, who are still underrepresented in the IPCC process, is strongly encouraged. Please pass this information on to relevant experts. Participants to the workshops will be selected by the IPCC Chair, with advice from the Scientific Steering Committee.

How to be nominated

(If you live and work abroad, please contact your local IPCC Focal Point)

If you are interested in participating in one or both of these workshops please take the following steps:

1. Complete the attached nomination form and save as your lastname_firstname.xlsx.
2. Please only complete 1 form per nomination, even if you want to apply for both workshops (see drop down on the ‘Expertise’ tab to select your workshop).
3. Please note that the Excel form has 2 tabs (“Information” and “Expertise and Publications”).
4. All mandatory information in the Excel form, indicated by *, must be filled in
5. Please provide a CV in English and in a PDF format (2 pages maximum and file size limited to 2 MB), saved as lastname_firstname_cv.
6. Send your nomination form and CV to sebastian.koenig@bafu.admin.ch until 2 July the latest (hard deadline).

Nominations will be reviewed and submitted by the Swiss IPCC Focal Point (FOEN).

If you have questions related to this call, please contact urs.neu@scnat.ch.