Jean-Pascal van YPERSELE is an emeritus professor of climatology and sustainable development sciences at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and a guest professor at the University of Liège (Belgium). He is a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium and the Federal Council for Sustainable Development. Since 2016, he has chaired the Walloon Platform for the IPCC, which he founded with the support of the Walloon Government.
A physicist and climate modeler, he worked at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States and has been publishing for over 40 years with experts in natural and social sciences on climate change and sustainable development at global and regional levels.
Jean-Pascal has been actively involved with the IPCC since 1995 and served as its Vice-Chair from 2008 to 2015 for the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). He is also a co-author of the first United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report (2019) and served on the EU Mission Board for Climate Change Adaptation and Societal Transformation (2019–2021).
Since 1979, he has participated in most United Nations climate conferences, including nearly all COPs, where he served as an advisor to the Belgian delegation and the Fijian presidency of COP23. He regularly advises heads of state and government, businesses, and stakeholders on climate issues.
Recognized for his commitment to climate justice, gender equality, and listening to youth, Jean-Pascal advocates for a science-based and empathetic approach to sustainable development that avoids greenwashing.
Jean-Pascal has been collaborating with ENERGIES 2050 for several years, particularly within francophone networks, where he actively contributes to promoting sustainable and inclusive solutions to climate challenges.