Belgium’s Scientific Contribution to the IPCC
How Belgian-based scientists can contribute to international climate assessments
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the physical basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
Belgium, through its national focal point (NFP) hosted by Belspo, plays a significant role in the IPCC process. This page explains how scientists based in Belgium can actively contribute to the work of the IPCC, including both experienced researchers and early-career scientists, and how nominated experts can get financial support from the Belgian Climate Centre for their participation to international meetings.
Why to contribute
Contributing to the work of the IPCC offers a unique opportunity to play a crucial role in shaping global understanding of climate science. The IPCC assessments are the result of contributions from thousands of scientists worldwide working together to synthesise the best available science. The process is rigorous, science-driven, and designed to inform international climate policy.
By contributing, you help ensure that governments have access to authoritative, high-quality and up-to-date scientific evidence on which they can base climate action. You also engage in a truly international scientific dialogue, collaborate with leading researchers across disciplines, and bring your own expertise into a global forum. Scientists can engage with the IPCC process in several key ways, ranging from authorship roles to reviewing drafts, participating expert meetings and contributing to the underlying scientific literature.
Important: The names and affiliations of all Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, and Review Editors are published in the annexes of the IPCC reports. For researchers, being listed as an author or Review Editor can be a valuable recognition of their contribution and is a relevant benefit for their career development and their international visibility.
How to contribute
1. Become an Author or Review Editor (nomination required)
Scientists can be nominated by Belspo, Belgium's IPCC focal point, to serve in crucial roles such as Coordinating Lead Author, Lead Author, or Review Editor.
Coordinating Lead Authors and Lead Authors are responsible for drafting the content of IPCC assessment reports, special reports, or methodology reports within specific chapters.
Review Editors ensure that all substantive comments received during the review process are given appropriate consideration by the author teams.
These roles require significant expertise in relevant fields and a substantial time commitment over several years, including attending several in-person international meetings. For roles as Coordinating Lead Author or Review Editor, we recommend having prior experience with the IPCC or a comparable international organisation.
Belspo manages the nomination process for Belgium, issuing calls for expressions of interest to the Belgian scientific community when the IPCC seeks nominations.
For more information on the nomination process and eligibility, please consult Belspo’s IPCC section or the IPCC website.
2. Work as Contributing Authors or Chapter Scientists
Contributing Authors provide specific knowledge or expertise in a given area and support the author teams in strengthening the scientific content of the report. Chapter Scientists provide technical and logistical support to author teams, including cross-checking findings across sections, additional fact-checking, and reference management.
This Chapter Scientist role is particularly well suited to early-career researchers seeking valuable experience at the science-policy interface.
Contributing Authors and Chapter Scientists are typically recruited directly by Coordinating Lead Authors or through calls issued by the relevant Technical Support Unit (TSU) for an IPCC Working Group or report. Opportunities may also be highlighted via Belspo, our social networks (LinkedIn, Bluesky), or relevant research institutions.
The benefits of this role include:
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Working with leading international experts.
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Building a global network of research contacts.
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Gaining in-depth insights into the IPCC report preparation process.
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Contributing Authors and Chapter Scientists are also acknowledged by name and affiliation in the IPCC reports, providing early-career researchers with international visibility.
3. Work as Expert Reviewers
The credibility of IPCC reports hinges on a rigorous, multi-stage review process. The IPCC invites scientists with relevant expertise (including those not previously involved in the IPCC process) to comment on draft reports during formal review periods.
As an expert reviewer, you can comment on the accuracy and completeness of the scientific assessment within sections or chapters relevant to your expertise or review the report as a whole.
The review periods are announced on the IPCC website, its social media channels, and are also communicated via Belspo’s website and social media platforms.
Why become an expert reviewer?
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Help ensure the scientific integrity, accuracy, balance, and clarity of IPCC reports.
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Gain new scientific knowledge and broaden your expertise by reading the latest assessments.
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Your contributions as an Expert Reviewer are acknowledged by name and affiliation in the Annex of Reviewers of the final report (review comments will not be anonymous). This recognition can be particularly valuable for early-career scientists.
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It’s also an excellent opportunity to familiarise yourself with the IPCC process. Moreover, when applying as author, having already contributed as expert review is considered a plus during the selection of authors for IPCC reports.
4. Contribute to relevant literature
IPCC reports are primarily based on peer-reviewed scientific, technical, and socio-economic literature. Therefore, publishing high-quality research is a fundamental contribution.
Publishing relevant articles to peer-reviewed scientific journals or other recognised technical publications is essential for your research to be considered for inclusion in IPCC assessments.
Papers must be accepted for publication or published by specific deadlines set for each report cycle to be eligible for assessment. These deadlines are announced on the IPCC website and communicated via Belspo.
Key considerations for publications:
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Focus on policy-relevant, robust findings.
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Provide numerical data that is clear and comparable with other studies.
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Address knowledge gaps identified in previous IPCC reports or highlight emerging issues.
5. Participate in IPCC meetings and workshops (nomination often required)
Beyond report writing and reviewing, scientists can contribute by participating in IPCC Scoping Meetings (which define the outline and scope of future reports), Workshops, and Expert Meetings focused on specific scientific or technical issues.
Participation in Scoping Meetings and Workshops requires formal nomination by the NFP (Belspo). Participation in Expert Meetings is typically by invitation from the IPCC Bureau.
For updates on upcoming meetings and workshops, regularly consult the IPCC website or the Belgian Climate Centre’s communications channels.
Role of Belspo
As the national focal point for the IPCC in Belgium, Belspo coordinates the country’s involvement in the IPCC process. Its responsibilities notably include:
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Formulating Belgium’s positions for IPCC plenary sessions.
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Managing the official nomination process for Belgian experts for IPCC authorship roles (Coordinating Lead Author, Lead Author), Review Editor positions, and participation in official IPCC meetings (like Scoping Meetings) and workshops. Scientists interested in a nomination are invited to consult the updates on our website or on the Belspo website, as well as on our social networks (LinkedIn, Bluesky) and Belspo’s (LinkedIn, Bluesky). They can also contact Belspo for information about the procedures.
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Facilitating national input and stakeholder engagement in IPCC activities.
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Disseminating IPCC findings to policymakers and the public within Belgium.
Role of the Belgian Climate Centre
As part of its ambition to support climate research in Belgium, and facilitate contributions by researchers in Belgium to the IPCC, the Belgian Climate Centre provides financial support for the participation of Belgian authors, contributors and reviewers to IPCC international meetings (travel and accommodation costs, as well as daily allowance).
This support is intended primarily for experts nominated through the Belgian NFP and subsequently selected by the UN panel, whose costs are not fully borne by any other institution or organisation. Experts selected for panel activities where no formal nomination by NFP is required, such as participation in expert meetings, participation as a chapter scientist, contributing author or reviewer, can also apply for support.
More information about reimbursement procedures can be found in the document on the bottom of this page.
Staying Updated
For the latest information on calls for experts, review periods, publication deadlines, and nomination procedures:
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Visit the official IPCC website.
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Check Belspo’s IPCC section and our website.
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Follow updates on our social networks (LinkedIn, Bluesky) and Belspo’s (LinkedIn, Bluesky)
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Additionally, for specific information, activities, and expertise within the Walloon region, the Walloon Platform for the IPCC (Plateforme wallonne pour le GIEC) serves as a regional contact point and aims to support Walloon scientists involved in the work of the IPCC and facilitate understanding of climate change issues.
Instructions for requesting funding for international missions for IPCC authors in Belgium
The Belgian Climate Centre provides financial support for the participation of IPCC authors and experts in Belgium to scoping meetings, author meetings, expert meetings and workshops, task forces or plenary sessions of IPCC. This financial support covers travel and accommodation costs, as well as daily allowance.
For who?
This support is intended for:
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experts nominated through the Belgian national focal point (i.e. BELSPO), and subsequently selected by the UN panel, whose costs are not fully borne by any other institution or organisation,
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experts selected for panel activities where no formal nomination by NFP is required, such as participation in expert meetings, participation as a chapter scientist or contributing author.
Eligible experts are:
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working at a Belgian institution (university, research institution, administration, etc.),
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Belgian nationals working at foreign knowledge institutions, nominated by the Belgian NFP.
What is being covered?
The following costs can be covered by the Belgian Climate Centre:
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travel costs
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accommodation costs
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daily allowances
How to submit a request?
Experts must submit a request to the Belgian Climate Centre at least six weeks before the start of the mission using the form ‘Request Form - Foreign Mission Support’ that can be found below.
The Belgian Climate Centre will assess the application based on several criteria. If accepted, within four weeks after the mission, the expert provides the Belgian Climate Centre with a brief report (approx. 1 page) as well as the reimbursement request (see “Refund Form - Foreign Mission Support” below). The reimbursement will be made after receipt and approval of the supporting documents.
More information?
All details about the covered costs, as well as the request and reimbursement procedures, can be found in the "Instructions IPCC Support" document.