After two weeks of supporting the approval process of WGI AR6 Summary for Policy Makers SPM, I thought I’d share some thoughts. This process is there to ensure that the statements in the SPM are clear, direct & unambiguous to their audience; i.e. policymakers.
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During the approval process *each sentence* drafted by the lead authors is voted on by government delegates, and only stays in the SPM if there is a unanimous agreement on that sentence.
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If there is a disagreement, delegates will argue on the wording. Any proposed changes (e.g. to clarify a statement) by delegates undergoes an intense scrutiny by the authors on spot. Some of the changes authors respond to immediately, others require time to deliberate
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