25 September, 2026

A Guardian investigation has raised questions about the number of Saudi-linked scientists, including employees of Saudi Aramco, contributing to the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report. The investigation identified multiple authors in Working Group III, which focuses on emissions reduction and carbon removal technologies, whose professional affiliations overlap with organisations that have a direct interest in the future of fossil fuels and carbon capture solutions.

For some, this is a straightforward conflict of interest. But the issue may require a more pragmatic lens as the world’s largest energy companies have invested in climate science, modelling and emissions technologies for decades, and many employ highly qualified researchers. Excluding experts solely because they work in the energy sector risks narrowing the pool of expertise available to tackle one of the world’s most complex challenges.

The more important question is not whether industry scientists should have a seat at the table, but how those scientists are scrutinised and held accountable. The Guardian’s reporting highlights concern that several authors linked to companies, government-backed institutions and fossil fuel interests were approved without formal conflict concerns being raised. Critics argue that the IPCC’s current policy lacks transparency and sufficient safeguards, particularly because conflict disclosures are not publicly available and details of reviews remain confidential.

From our perspective, solving the climate crisis will almost certainly require participation from governments, academia, industry and civil society alike. The challenge is ensuring that involvement does not undermine trust. Strong disclosure requirements, meaningful conflict of interest rules and transparent oversight are essential to maintaining credibility. The real question here may be less about who is contributing to the IPCC’s work and more about whether the organisation’s governance is keeping pace with the stakes involved.

By Tulika Agarwal