Proposing a Subject Chapter Working Group is simple.  

1. Submit a relevant topic to roederaway@yahoo.com  and propose a Working Group that will create a Report Chapter showing the risks of climate change and also recommend, practical, science-based solutions to reduce those. Even if the focus of your NGO's activities isn't climate change, very likely your area is affected and you will be able to propose useful solutions. Describe the problem you wish to examine in no more than two paragraphs and the general direction of your recommendations. Also list all of the initial participants with a three or four sentence bio on each and contact information.  See deadlines.
    

2. Chapter Working Groups are permanent NGO networks.   Allow participants from outside your field of expertise to participate if they can show a link. For example, Water is often cited as one of the most important climate change topics. Millions now have no access to clean water. Millions who do will lose it as new geographies warm and dry out. Water impacts gender, agriculture and small island nations. Each of those topics is large enough to warrant a separate chapter, but the experts in each could also enrich the other chapters. In addition, use the Working Group to hold public events, develop action plans, argue for political change. In other words, while the report is an important deliverable, it isn't the only one. Working Groups can remain long after the Report is published in order to causer real change.
    

3. Propose two Coordinators.   We prefer one be a woman and one be under 35 years of age, and that both southern and northern hemispheres be represented; but this is not a firm rule. The coordinators must be able to communicate with the Editorial Working group by email.
    

4. Pick a network of NGOs to work with to develop your papers.  Your partners do not need to be in association with the UN; but you must be in association with either ECOSOC or the UN Department of Public Information. We prefer that Chapter Working Groups have at least ten participants from different NGOs as members and recommend that the size be much larger.
    

5. Be willing to allow your proposal to be combined with others if they are identical to yours or very nearly the same.
    

6. Be willing to follow the rules set out in the website.
   
    

Other Deadlines

August, 2008. Drafts of chapters are due. The Editorial Committee then uses the period between then and October to coordinate edits with the various Coordinators, as well as make sure that the introductory chapters are completed and the design of the Report.

October 15, 2008 --- edited chapters, introduction, and two lead chapters go to Executive Committee and Congo

November 15, 2008 --- alterations from Executive Committee and Congo due; if none are received by that date, we will assume that there are none to be made.  

December 1, 2008 --- Report to the Secretary General --- Larry said he would see if he and Jeffrey could set up a meeting where the Chapter Coordinators and the Editors the editors might attend. If all of the Coordinators are not allowed in the same room for the official handover, it was recommended that a reception; but that the Secretary General be invited. Similarly, these also dates apply to the Chairman of the IPCC.