In August 2025, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) officially announced the authors for its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). AR7 is composed of three Working Groups (WGs), each responsible for systematically assessing the scientific knowledge related to climate change.
Two researchers from National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) have been selected as authors for Working Group II (WG2), which focuses on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability:
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Toshihiro Hasegawa (Executive Scientist, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences)
Coordinating Lead Author for Chapter: Chapter 8 - Asia
Dr. Hasegawa previously served as a Coordinating Lead Author for Chapter 5, "Food, Fibre, and Other Ecosystem Products," in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). His consecutive selection as CLA (Coordinating Lead Author) for AR7, in a different chapter, reflects continued trust and recognition of his expertise within the IPCC scientific community.
- Toshichika Iizumi (Principal Scientist, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences)
Lead Author for Chapter: Chapter 17 - Agriculture, food, forestry, fibre and fisheries
With a strong international research background in agricultural meteorology and global food production, Dr. Iizumi contributes to the scientific assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and related sectors.
WG2 evaluates the scientific understanding of climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability across a wide range of sectors--not limited to agriculture and food, but also including urban systems, health, ecosystems, and economic and cultural dimensions.
Of the eight authors selected from Japan for WG2, two are from NARO. This highlights the organization's recognized expertise in agricultural and environmental sciences and its contribution to broad international scientific assessments.
IPCC Assessment Reports are critical documents that provide scientific foundations for global policy decisions. Contributing to their authorship is a highly esteemed international role. The selection of these two researchers demonstrates NARO's active engagement in generating and disseminating scientific knowledge to support climate change responses both domestically and globally.
