The government supports Jean-Pascal van Ypersele's candidacy for the IPCC chairmanship

On Friday 28 October 2022 the Council of Ministers approved a note on the federal government's support for the candidacy of Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele (UCLouvain, Earth and Life Institute) for the IPCC chairmanship. The note was submitted by Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments, in charge of Science Policy, and co-signed by Alexander De Croo, Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Zakia Khattabi and Hadja Lahbib.

Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele is an internationally recognised expert on climate science. He is also strongly interested in sustainable development and the socio-economic aspects of climate change. Jean-Pascal van Ypersele is also known as a strong negotiator. His scientific expertise, his historical knowledge of the IPCC and his widely acclaimed performance as Vice-Chair, led the government to enthusiastically support his second candidacy to lead the organisation.

As a reminder, in 2015, South Korean Dr Hoesung Lee was elected as Chair against Pascal van Ypersele (56 votes to 78).

The IPCC was established in 1988 on the initiative of two UN organisations, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Environment Programme (UNEP), following the first World Climate Conference (1979). It was established to provide objective and scientifically sound information to policymakers in support of climate policies. IPCC's successive assessment reports provided an important basis for negotiations on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and preparations for the Paris Agreement. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 to the IPCC was a general recognition of the remarkable work done by the organisation. 

The election is not scheduled until July 2023, but today's decision assures Professor van Ypersele of our country's support during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November.

BELSPO, the Federal Science Policy Office, will fund the costs of the candidate's campaign and those associated with the presidency.

"I will make every effort to support the candidature of Jean-Pascal van Ypersele. Over the course of his career, he has demonstrated scientific rigour, outreach capacity , negotiating skills, persuasiveness and a genuine commitment to the welfare of future generations. I am sure he would make an excellent Chair of the IPCC," Thomas Dermine concludes