Climate Policy: Political implications of data presentation

Introduction

What is the appropriate balance between scientific analysis and
governmental input in the IPCC? Claiming government overreach and
calling for greater insulation of the process come from a misleadingly
simple interpretation. Such insulation would likely diminish the policy
relevance of the SPM. The SPM is “approved” by governments, not merely “accepted” as is the main report, which invests it with an important measure of governmental ownership. An approval process is worth preserving, as it is precisely what makes the IPCC distinct from any number of technical reports. We explore an alternative vision for articulating science and politics at the IPCC.