Guidance for Developing Executive Summaries and Summaries for Policy makers in GEO Assessments

This document sets out practical guidance for crafting chapter Executive Summaries and an overall Summary for Policymakers (SPM) in Global Environment Outlook assessments. Executive Summaries open each chapter with 10–12 key findings, each backed by confidence statements, links to supporting sections, and a traceable evidence trail that feeds the SPM. It distinguishes Executive Summaries’ technical findings from the SPM’s synthesized, policy-relevant messages, noting that Chapter 1 may use “key messages” rather than findings. The SPM is a concise set of key messages followed by substantiated findings with confidence levels and references; no content may appear that is absent from the technical report. Drafting responsibility rests with report co-chairs and selected authors under MEP and Bureau oversight. Development proceeds iteratively: draft Executive Summaries, identify policy messages, revisit chapters, and structure the SPM with bolded main sentences, facts, and graphics.