The IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as follow-up to the Brundtland report, also known as "Our Common Future".

The purpose of the IPCC is to asses, on the basis of scientific literature, the scope and understanding of climate change and its impacts. The IPCC also assesses the possibilities for adapting to as well as countering future climate change. The IPCC's work is based on ordinary procedures for the critical review of scientific literature. All authors of IPCC reports are chosen on the basis of their scientific qualifications. The authors have the task of compiling the existing knowledge and ensuring the information is subjected to objective criticism undertaken by specialists and experts from the countries participating in the IPCC's work. 

The work is organised in three working groups. Working Group I deals with "The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change" Working Group II deals with "Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" and Working Group III with "Mitigation of Climate Change".

The IPCC has prepared four main reports so far (in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007). Each main report consists of three sub reports from each working group as well a synthesis report.