Climate science for policymakers

Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/Wanmei Liang

Why is it important? 

Policymakers need to be informed about the state of the climate, how human activity is affecting it, and the possible future outcomes that we might experience. Rigorous policymaking requires a robust scientific evidence base, which climate scientists can help to deliver.

What are we doing?  

Our work helps to ensure that policymakers have access to up-to-date scientific evidence and expertise on the Earth’s climate system and how humans are impacting it. This includes the latest understanding on: the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; how this will affect global temperatures; what impacts are likely to occur in future (such as extreme weather and sea level rise); and the extent to which human-caused climate change is already making extreme weather more likely and intense.

Related content

Background briefing: Autumn and winter storms in the UK 2023-24

This background briefing explains how climate change made the heavy storms that hit the UK and Ireland in late 2023 and early 2024 more frequent and intense, alongside proposals on how to respond to future extreme weather. 

Background briefing: Limiting temperature increase to 1.5°C

This briefing presents the latest evidence on the size of the remaining carbon budget.

Background briefing: Are we on track to meet climate goals?

Are the carbon reduction targets and policies from countries enough? This briefing presents the latest assessment of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Background briefing: Why is achieving net zero necessary?

This background briefing explains that reducing emissions to net zero as fast as possible to cap temperature rise is the only way to avoid the most dangerous impacts from climate change.

House of Lords inquiry: Methane and climate change

This consultation response, submitted to the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, shares work carried out for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and peer-reviewed research regarding methane and climate change.

Background briefing: Loss & Damage Fund: the need for metrics

This briefing explores the role of climate science in operationalising The Loss and Damage Fund and warns that eligibility criteria must be practical.

Related events

Countdown to COP29: Raising Global Ambition on the Road to Baku

Following the commitments made at COP28, this event explores how governments can scale-up action and deliver on the Paris agreement.

Prof Jim Skea: Science in a carbon-constrained world

This talk, by Professor Jim Skea (Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), sets out what is currently known regarding the nature and scale of the risks we face; agency; the capacity of governments and others to take action; and how climate action can build consensus around the way forward.

UN Climate Change Conference events

Find all of our events and engagements from COP28.