Two KAUST Professors have been named lead authors for the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), the definitive scientific assessment guiding global climate action. Associate Professor Sami G. Al-Ghamdi and Professor Hussein Hoteit are two of 664 scientists from 111 countries contributing to the report due in 2029 and helping shape the next decade of climate policy, 

This appointment positions KAUST at the center of the world’s most influential climate assessment and highlights the university’s growing role in advancing science with global impact. 

Leading Global Climate Science 

The IPCC is the UN’s body for assessing the science of climate change. Established in 1988, it provides regular scientific assessments that inform international climate policy. Its comprehensive reports, published every 5–7 years, are central to UN climate negotiations, helping governments and societies understand risks, adaptation needs, and mitigation pathways. 

The AR7 is being developed by three Working Groups focusing on the physical science basis (WGI), impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability (WGII), and mitigation of climate change (WGIII). The reports are expected to begin release in 2028, with full completion in 2029. 

Associate Professor Sami G. Al-Ghamdi – WGII, Chapter 8: Asia  

Al-Ghamdi, an expert in sustainable urban development, infrastructure resilience, and environmental systems, has been appointed as a Lead Author for Chapter 8 (Asia) of WGII. This regional assessment chapter addresses the diverse impacts of climate change across Asia, including vulnerabilities, risks, adaptation strategies, and responses to losses and damages. 

Professor Hussein Hoteit – WGIII, Chapter 15: Potentials, Limits, and Risks of Carbon Dioxide Removal  

Hoteit, a leading authority on energy resources engineering and subsurface carbon management, has been appointed as a Lead Author for Chapter 15 (Potentials, Limits, and Risks of Carbon Dioxide Removal – CDR) of WGIII. This chapter examines the technical, economic, and environmental dimensions of carbon dioxide removal approaches, including their feasibility, risks, scalability, and potential role in achieving net-zero and net-negative emission futures. Hoteit’s expertise in enhanced mineralization, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and reservoir engineering positions him to contribute substantially to one of the most critical debates in climate mitigation science. 

Informing global decisions 

By contributing to the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report, Al-Ghamdi and Hoteit will help deliver rigorous scientific evidence that informs international climate negotiations and policy decisions. Their selection underscores KAUST’s role as a hub for cutting-edge research on climate, energy, and sustainability, advancing solutions from the shores of the Red Sea to the global stage.