New Zealand Climate Expert Panel

Provides advice to the Society on climate science issues.

Terms of Reference

  1. The creation, terms of reference, and duration of the committee shall be approved by the Society Council.
  2. The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the Society Council. The chair’s term of office shall normally be for two years (renewable) or for the duration of the committee, if less.
  3. The membership of the committee shall be appointed by the CEO in consultation with the chair and other interested parties. The term of office shall normally be for two years or for the duration of the committee, if less. If the committee’s term is longer than two years then half of the members shall stand down at the completion of each two years and will be eligible for renewal or replacement.
  4. The committee shall adhere to the Society’s Code of Ethics.
  5. The committee will provide a plan outlining its proposed activity to the Council for approval subject to budget. The plan will be updated annually.
  6. The committee will propose an annual budget to the CEO prior to the Royal Society’s annual budget finalisation.
  7. The committee will provide an annual report to the Society Council.
  8. The Royal Society officer assigned to the committee is responsible for all minutes and administrative matters of the committee.
  9. The committee shall advise the CEO and Society Council on all matters of concern and respond to any request.
  10. To monitor the present state of knowledge of climate science, of climate variability on all time scales, and of current and future climate impacts and responses, for New Zealand, the South Pacific and Ross Dependency. All components of the climate system should be taken into account including physical, biological, social, economic and culural impacts and responses.
  11. To make recommendations and provide advice on New Zealand research and monitoring needs, priorities and gaps regarding climate, its impacts and responses, including application of climate information.
  12. To encourage communication and collaboration between climate researchers, dialogue between climate scientists and users of climate information, and the dissemination of climate information for the general public and for the education sector.
  13. To foster links between New Zealand activities and appropriate international climate research and monitoring programmes, particularly through the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), IPCC, the International Association for Meteorological and Atmospheric Sciences, the technical commissions of the World Meteorological Organisation, and liaison with the New Zealand IGBP Committee.