Seven Belgian scientists to contribute to next IPCC climate report
Seven experts from Belgian universities and research institutes have been appointed as authors of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). They are among the 761 researchers worldwide who have been selected to contribute to what will be the IPCC’s most comprehensive review of climate science to date, as announced on Wednesday by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO).
Contributions to the main report will come from climatologist Chris Smith and glaciologist Harry Zekollari (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), oceanographer Peter Landschützer (Flanders Marine Institute), geologist David De Vleeschouwer (University of Münster), and climate policy specialist Joeri Rogelj (Imperial College London). Meteorologist Rafiq Hamdi (Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium) and migration researcher Caroline Zickgraf (University of Liège) have also been selected for the IPCC’s special report on Climate and Cities.
“This selection confirms the central role that Belgium plays in climate science, both academically and institutionally,” said Arnaud Vajda, BELSPO chair. "It strengthens our country’s influence in future climate negotiations and highlights the excellence of our research ecosystem."
The IPCC does not carry out its own research, but rather synthesises thousands of studies from around the world. Its assessments form the scientific backbone of climate policy and international negotiations, including the UN climate summits. Work on AR7 will begin at the first Lead Author meeting in December 2025, with the Working Group reports expected from mid-2028, culminating in a Synthesis Report by late 2029.
© Atif Aryan / AFP
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