Guardian Investigation Finds Conflict of Interest Among IPCC Lead Authors

A Guardian investigation has highlighted potential conflicts of interest among experts contributing to the upcoming Inter‑governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment. The probe focused on the panel’s working group that evaluates mitigation strategies, which includes 223 lead authors. According to the report, 20 of these authors have “strong” conflicts of interest, with more than half linked to Saudi institutions. The list includes two employees of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, and several other researchers affiliated with Saudi universities and research centres.

The findings raise concerns about the independence of the IPCC’s recommendations on how to curb greenhouse‑gas emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere. While the panel has long maintained strict disclosure rules, the Guardian’s analysis suggests that the prevalence of ties to the Saudi oil sector could influence the assessment’s guidance on emissions reductions. The IPCC has not yet responded to the investigation, but the report underscores the need for transparent vetting of contributors in high‑profile climate science assessments.