The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was divided equally between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was created in 1988, and Al Gore, who was the former vice president of the United States and was born in 1948. They were honored "for their work to increase and share knowledge about climate change caused by humans, and to help create the actions needed to address this issue."

Announcement

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on 12 October 2007. It said that actions to address possible future climate changes should follow the precautionary principle, meaning steps should be taken to prevent harm even if some details are uncertain. It also noted that major changes in the climate could lower living standards and increase the chance of wars and conflicts. The committee honored the work of the IPCC, stating that "Al Gore has long been one of the world's top environmental leaders" and that he has done more than most people to help the world understand the actions needed to address climate change. The committee concluded that it wanted to focus attention on decisions that are important for protecting the future climate and reducing threats to human safety. It emphasized that action must happen now, before climate change becomes too difficult to control.

The award received quick attention. An Associated Press article in USA Today on 12 October 2007, titled "Gore, scientists share Nobel Peace Prize," quoted Rajendra Pachauri as saying that all scientists who worked with the IPCC were recognized as Nobel laureates by the committee. He added that these scientists should feel encouraged and inspired, as their work was honored. Pachauri described himself as someone who manages the IPCC process. On the same day, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory listed scientists who contributed to the IPCC's work. Pachauri sent a letter to the main authors of the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, saying he was surprised in a happy way by the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the IPCC. He wrote that this recognition makes each of them a Nobel Laureate and that it was his honor to acknowledge their achievement. The letter also said that the IPCC's award is a tribute to the knowledge, effort, and dedication of the scientists who worked on the reports.

Presentation

On December 10, 2007, in Oslo, an event took place. Ole Danbolt Mjøs, who was the leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, gave a speech. Afterward, Nobel Lectures were presented by Rajendra K. Pachauri, who spoke for the IPCC, and by Al Gore. During his lecture, Pachauri expressed gratitude to the people who helped the IPCC.

IPCC certificates

The IPCC gave special certificates to scientists who helped create its reports. These certificates, which include the scientists' names and a copy of the Nobel Peace Prize certificate, were sent to people who held specific roles, such as coordinating lead authors, lead authors, review editors, bureau members, staff from technical support units, and secretariat staff. These individuals worked with the IPCC from when it started in 1988 until the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the IPCC.

In a statement on October 29, 2012, the IPCC explained that the Nobel Peace Prize was given to the IPCC as an organization, not to any individual. Therefore, it is incorrect to call any IPCC official or scientist who worked on IPCC reports a "Nobel laureate" or "Nobel Prize winner." It is correct to say, "X contributed to the reports of the IPCC, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007." The IPCC also stated that it did not send the certificates to contributing authors, expert reviewers, or focal points.