UN Climate Panel Faces Push to Delay 2028 Global Report

Scientists meeting in Addis Ababa face pressure from a group of countries to delay the release of a major global climate report until 2029. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is discussing its seventh assessment report, known as AR7, which was originally scheduled for 2028 to align with the Cop33 climate summit. Saudi Arabia and Russia, along with India and China, are pushing for the one-year delay. Proponents of the postponement argue that developing nations need more time to contribute to the scientific findings, noting that climate science has historically been dominated by Western nations and blocs. Conversely, ministers from 34 vulnerable countries in the High Ambition Coalition strongly oppose any delay, warning it could harm urgent climate negotiations tied to the Paris agreement target of limiting warming to 1.5C.

Context

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the leading UN body for assessing climate science, relying on comprehensive periodic reports to guide global policy. These assessments directly inform major international climate summits like Cop33, where governments review their progress on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.