At least a dozen lead authors for the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are employed by or linked to Saudi Aramco, Saudi institutions, and other oil and gas interests, according to a Guardian investigation published alongside international media partners. The findings center on the IPCC’s Working Group III, which assesses emissions-cutting policies and technologies that directly impact the economic interests of countries and companies.
Saudi Aramco Employees and Government Ties Within IPCC Working Group III
The investigation examined the 223 lead authors in Working Group III of the Seventh Assessment Report cycle. According to the findings, 20 cases involve strong conflict of interest concerns, with more than half linked directly to Saudi institutions. Dr Mustafa Babiker, who has worked for Saudi Aramco for 20 years, serves as a coordinating lead author despite company ties that he disclosed on IPCC conflict of interest forms. Another Aramco employee, Dr Diego Armando Moya Pinta, works as an energy and sustainability scientist at the company and acts as a lead author on energy systems, though his affiliation is listed solely as Imperial College London.
Furthermore, five lead authors are affiliated with the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), a thinktank funded by the Saudi government and chaired by the energy minister of the country. Other authors maintain active research links with Aramco divisions or Saudi universities that advertise close collaborations with the state oil enterprise. Alongside these author placements, Dr Malak Al-Nory serves as one of Working Group III’s seven vice-chairs while simultaneously working as a senior adviser to the Saudi energy ministry and representing the kingdom at UN climate negotiations.
Did you know?
The IPCC’s Working Group III evaluates how emissions can be reduced or removed from the atmosphere, making its policy assessments directly relevant to the commercial viability of fossil fuel companies and petrostates.
Defending the Conflict of Interest Policy and Selection Safeguards
The IPCC’s conflict of interest committee stated in March 2026 that no conflicts of interest had been identified among the authors chosen for the Seventh Assessment Report. A spokesperson for the IPCC defended the body’s integrity, stating that no authors had been referred to the committee because all reported potential conflicts were successfully resolved by working group vice-chairs.
“The strength of the IPCC lies in its commitment to diverse leadership and author teams, multiple expert and government review processes, and the inclusive nature of its assessments,” the IPCC spokesperson said, noting that conclusions are developed collectively rather than determined by any single country or sector. Representatives for Saudi Aramco declined to comment on the investigation.
Expert Reactions and Governance Concerns
External researchers and policy advocates have raised alarms regarding the independence of the scientific panel. Rachel Kennerley, a senior campaigner at the Center for International Environmental Law, stated that the disconnect between committee conclusions and the presence of petroleum company employees raises questions about whether the policy is fit for purpose. Tzeporah Berman, chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, argued that conflict of interest rules exist to protect institutional integrity from reasonable perceptions of bias.
Dr Kari De Pryck, a political scientist at the University of Geneva, contextualized the appointments within Saudi Arabia’s broader climate diplomacy shift. According to De Pryck, the kingdom’s traditional opposition to fossil fuel phase-outs at UN summits is increasingly accompanied by the promotion of technologies such as carbon capture, which limit the disruption to petroleum economies. The IPCC currently has no process underway to amend its conflict of interest policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the IPCC’s Working Group III?
Working Group III assesses how greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated, reduced, or removed from the atmosphere, evaluating policies and technologies relevant to energy systems and economic transition.
What did the investigation reveal about Saudi-linked authors?
The investigation found that at least a dozen lead authors and one vice-chair in Working Group III have employment or research links to Saudi Aramco, Saudi government thinktanks, or state-linked universities.
How does the IPCC handle potential conflicts of interest?
Authors submit disclosure forms reviewed by working group vice-chairs and a conflict of interest committee. The IPCC maintains that its multi-stage review processes and diverse author teams safeguard report objectivity.
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