IPCC: Governments split on ‘accelerated’ climate reports for next UN global stocktake

🔎 Key Takeaways

In mid-January, over 375 delegates from 120 governments met over four days in Istanbul, Turkey to decide on the new structure for the 7th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment cycle. 

Traditionally, the essence of an IPCC cycle is an “assessment report” that comprises three working group reports and an overall “synthesis” report. However, challenges from the sixth assessment report included a very high workload due to the number of reports, rapidly increasing literature, and a significant increase of review of comments on the final government draft.

A final agreement on the seventh assessment report (AR7) was reached, falling on a compromise between a “light” and “classical” option. Although this means that delegates have decided against adopting a new structure for the next IPCC assessment cycle, there will be some novelties.

Overall, the reports of the next cycle will include:

• A full assessment report with an overall « synthesis report » which is planned to be published in 2029.
• Two methodology reports: one on short-lived climate forces and another one on carbon dioxide removal technologies, carbon capture utilisation and storage.
• Continuation of the special report on climate change and cities.
• A revision of the IPCC’s technical guidelines on impacts and adaptation, established in 1994

Delegates, however, were not able to agree on a full timeline for the AR7 cycle. There was a push to produce the AR7 by, or by the end of, 2028 in order for the IPCC to remain policy-relevant. However, this came with strong resistance from Saudi Arabia, China and India.