Jump to content Jump to footer
Install App

Install this app on your device for a better experience.

Glossary

The English version of our glossary is currently under construction and will be regularly updated.

Confidence

In an IPCC Report, the standard term used to describe the level of confidence in a given statement. The IPCC defines this term in the introduction.

In the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), a standard term, defined in the introduction, is used to describe the level of confidence in a given statement. In order to accurately reflect scientific uncertainty, the statements made (in all parts of the Report) are rated by the team of authors, either qualitatively (“very low” to “very high” confidence) or – if possible – using quantitative probabilities. These range from “virtually certain” (99–100% probability) and “extremely likely” (90–100% probability) to “likely” (66–100% probability), all the way to “extremely unlikely” (0–1% probability). Where applicable, statements are also presented as facts (without any reference to probability).

back