The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has launched a call for expert reviewers to assess the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. This review is a vital step in ensuring the final assessment is scientifically robust and comprehensive. 

Registration for this review is open until November 30, 2025.

The review process is fundamental to the IPCC’s work, guaranteeing that the assessment is scientifically rigorous, exhaustive, objective and transparent. Broad participation, particularly by those with specific expertise related to climate change and urban environments, is considered one of the core strengths of IPCC assessments. The Role of the Expert Reviewer The First-Order Draft (FOD) of an IPCC report is exclusively open to review by experts. Experts from across the globe are invited to register through a dedicated web portal. 

The IPCC aims for the widest participation and broadest expertise possible; typically, those who register are accepted unless they fail to demonstrate relevant qualifications. Expert reviewers play a significant part in shaping the final assessment. Their role involves submitting comments that may cover a single sentence, a section, or an entire chapter of the draft report. They may assess the scientific substance or the structure of the report. Reviewers often help the authors by pointing out published papers that may not have been included but are relevant to the assessment. 

Dates for participation: 

• Review Period: The review for the First-Order Draft is scheduled to run from October 17 to December 12, 2025.

• Registration Deadline: Experts must register their interest by November 30, 2025. 

Why participate?

Being an Expert Reviewer in an IPCC report is tied to professional recognition, visibility and career advancement. This professional engagement will provide a strategic opportunity to develop and advance professional networks, enhancing career prospects through collaboration with leading experts. By submitting comments on draft reports to evaluate scientific rigor, the Expert Reviewer's knowledge contributions directly help to shape international climate governance.