The aim of the I.P.A. is to promote and coordinate international cooperation in palaeontology, including palaeobotany and palaeozoology of all geological periods, and to encourage the integration and synthesis of all palaeontological knowledge.
To this end the activities of the I.P.A. shall include:
(a) Organization of international meetings especially in association with international congresses;
(b) Collaboration with the officers responsible for programmes of international congresses to ensure that items of palaeontological interest are included on the programme of such congresses;
(c) Publication of a world directory of palaeontologists;
(d) Cooperation in the publication of international journals devoted to palaeontology;
(e) Encouragement and incorporation of International Research Groups within special fields of palaeontology, such as by the organization of symposia, the publication of proceedings, and by such other methods as shall be decided;
(f) Cooperation with other international organizations having interests allied to palaeontology;
(g) Representation in International Union of Geological Sciences (I.U.G.S). and International Union of Biological Sciences (I.U.B.S.) of national palaeontological societies;
(h) Any other activities considered appropriate by the Executive Committee.