Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The IPCC is the scientific authority on climate change. In November 2007, the IPCC published its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), a complete synthesis of the latest scientific and economic analysis of the causes and impacts of climate change, and of ways to mitigate and adapt to the problem. The synthesis report is the most accessible summary of the main findings, while the three Working Group reports provide more detailed information.

Synthesis Report of the Copenhagen Climate Congress

This report provides an update on climate change science and is based on research presented at a major international conference in Copenhagen in 2009. It includes research published in 2009, whereas the latest IPCC report only includes information from up to about 2005.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The UNFCCC is the framework under which governments negotiate about what to do to address climate change. The official website lists full details of the meeting agendas, side events and information for journalists. It also has draft negotiating texts, live video streams of the negotiations when they are in session and on-demand video coverage of past sessions. To request interviews with UNFCCC officials, email: press@unfccc.int. When requesting an interview, please indicate which media organization you represent and submit a brief list of questions to be answered.

UNFCCC National Focal Points

The list of National Focal Points provides contact details of representatives of the countries that are party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Earth Negotiations Bulletin

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is a balanced, timely and independent reporting service that provides daily information in print and electronic formats from multilateral negotiations on environment and development. The ENB team attends the UNFCCC climate change negotiations and reports daily on the meetings themselves and on the many side events that take place. Journalists can sign up to receive these reports for free by email.

Climate Action Network’s daily ECO Bulletin

The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a worldwide network of over 450 non-governmental organizations working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels. CAN members attend the UN climate change negotiations and publish a daily bulletin called ECO which exposes barriers to progress and proposes ways forward.

Third World Network

This non-governmental organisation attends the UN climate change negotiations and publishes informative and authoritative briefing papers and news updates that shine a light on the perspectives of developing nations.

Climate-L

The International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Climate-L email list is a news and announcement list service that focuses on the climate change policy and issues. Postings include breaking climate news, announcements of workshops/conferences, job listings, and information on new publications and online resources. You can subscribe for free.

SciDev.Net

The Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net) has a Climate Change and Energy Gateway, which brings together news and features articles, background analysis and opinion that highlight the important aspects of this challenge. SciDev.Net also has a topic gateway on Science Communication, which includes articles and practical guides aimed at journalists covering climate change and other science stories.

Access to climate-change research through publishers and press release agencies
A number of publishers give free online access to journals and news alerts to journalists, including:

Elsevier

offer free access to both ScienceDirect (its online journal platform) and Scopus (abstracts of all research articles, including those from other publishers, since 1986) and offer bi-weekly alerts to latest research. Accredited journalists should sign up to get free access.

Wiley-Blackwell

To receive Wiley-Blackwell news alerts or receive access to journal content on Wiley Interscience (Wiley Blackwell’s online journal platform) go to the website and provide your full contact information.

Oxford University Press

Once Oxford University Press has revamped the media section of its website, journalists will be able to request/register online for press access to journals published by Oxford University Press and sign up for OUP press releases (1 or 2 a month, breaking news). However, in the intervening period, journalists should contact helen.ison@oup.com to request access, providing information on their credentials.

Nature

The Nature Press Office provides a service whereby press releases and content details of forthcoming Nature and the Nature Research Journal papers are emailed to journalists one week before the publication date. Nature also distributes press releases for other Nature Publishing Group journals on an ad-hoc basis. Journalists can access the press site once they have registered free of charge, and can download the scientific papers in the issue and any additional information such as accompanying photographs and News and Views articles. To register with Nature, follow the links for new registrants.

Springer

offers accredited science and medical journalists free access to relevant content on upon request. A monthly newsletter, the content of which is primarily scientific discovery from Springer journals, is also sent out once a month to those that subscribe. Accredited journalists who would like to request access to SpringerLink should send an email to: corporate-communications@springer.com