BAMOS November 2025
10 Article
Meet the Australian-based experts shaping the IPCC AR7
Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather( sarah. kirkpatrick @ anu. edu. au) Dr Jatin Kala, Murdoch University( J. Kala @ murdoch. edu. au) Dr Blair Trewin, Bureau of Meteorology( blair. trewin @ bom. gov. au) Dr Kathleen McInnes, CSIRO( Kathleen. Mcinnes @ csiro. au) Dr Tilo Ziehn, CSIRO( Tilo. Ziehn @ csiro. au) A / Prof Josephine Brown, University of Melbourne( josephine. brown @ unimelb. edu. au) A / Prof Laurie Menviel, University of New South Wales( l. menviel @ unsw. edu. au) Dr Johanna Nalau, Griffith University( j. nalau @ griffith. edu. au) Prof Kathryn Bowen, University of Melbourne( kathryn. bowen @ unimelb. edu. au) Prof Md Saiful Karim, University of Southern Queensland( MdSaiful. Karim @ unisq. edu. au)
It is likely no surprise to most of you that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change( IPCC) has already begun its seventh assessment cycle( AR7).
This year, over 30 Australia-based scientists were selected as Lead and Coordinating Lead Authors for the Seventh Assessment Report, set for release in 2029.
We have asked nine of them— selected across all Working Groups and representing diverse expertise, institutions and career stages— to share what the next few years might look like for them.
A refresher on AR7 and the Working Groups
The AR7 began in July 2023 and will produce several outputs: the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities( scheduled for release in 2027), three Working Group Reports( planned for 2028 and 2029), and a Synthesis Report( end of 2029)— all key components of the cycle.
Working Group I( WGI) is the Physical Science Basis and will provide the scientific foundation of climate change. Working Group II( WGII) focuses on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, and Working Group III( WGIII) on Mitigation of Climate Change.
Each Working Group will meticulously assess the literature on developments and breakthroughs since the last assessment cycle( AR6) and, combined with previous developments and expert knowledge, determine the status of climate change science, the corresponding impacts, and our ability to mitigate and adapt to future climate change.
In addition to the separate reports, IPCC-sponsored Expert Meetings will support collaboration across working groups on relevant interdisciplinary issues, such as tipping points and human health.
As a next key step in the AR7 process, a joint Lead Author Meeting will take place in Paris in December. This will be the first time in the Panel’ s history that Lead Authors from all three Working Groups come together for the same meeting.
Meet our Australia-based Lead and Coordinating Lead Authors
Over 30 Australia-based scientists were selected as Lead and Coordinating Lead Authors for the Seventh Assessment Report, including five for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, ten for the WG I report, 14 for the WG II report, and five for the WG III report.
Within this group is also a number of Coordinating Lead Authors who have the extra-onerous task of formulating and collating their respective chapters. These include Nerilie Abram and Jatin Kala( Chapter 1, WGI), Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick( Chapter 3, WGI), Johanna Nalau( Chapter 4, WGII), Nina Lansbury( Chapter 9, WGII) and Jacqueline Peel( Chapter 6, WGIII).
The full list of Lead and Coordinating Lead Authors is given on the next page. We have asked nine of them to share what they’ ll be working on and what the future holds for them in the IPCC context. However, the next time you see any of the people listed below, make sure to give them huge congratulations on their involvement in this important and comprehensive scientific undertaking.