When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change received the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore on October 12, the IPCC was quick to acknowledge the contribution of its many author-scholars, including Scott Barrett, director of the SAIS International Policy Program.

Within days, Barrett received a congratulatory letter from the leadership of IPCC, thanking him and his colleagues for their efforts in producing several compelling reports on climate change that served as the basis for the prize.

“This work has provided the foundation for the current recognition of IPCC as an authoritative voice on the climate system, the impacts of climate change and ways to avoid it. You all can be proud of this achievement,” the letter said. Barrett, who recently published a new book, Why Cooperate? The Incentive to Supply Global Public Goods, was a lead author and contributing author to two of the IPCC assessment reports.