Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
IPCC meeting ends without agreement on timing of next climate report
The IPCC meeting in Addis Ababa ended without agreement on when to publish its next major climate assessment, known as AR7.
The IPCC is a UN-convened body of climate scientists, and its reports assess climate risks, ways to adapt and the emissions cuts needed.
AR7 was expected in 2028, but some governments want publication pushed to 2029 or later.
Saudi Arabia, Russia and India have raised objections, saying climate science is dominated by developed countries; China and Kenya are also identified among governments seeking a delay.
The timetable matters because the report could inform a 2028 review of climate pledges, when governments assess progress under the Paris Agreement and prepare new emissions targets.
Scientists and experts warn that delay could mean less pressure on governments to strengthen their climate commitments.
One possible compromise is to keep the first part of the report on its 2028 schedule while delaying other parts, but the IPCC has not set a firm timetable.
The IPCC meeting in Addis Ababa ended without agreement on when to publish its next major climate assessment, AR7.
The report was expected in 2028, but some governments want publication delayed until 2029 or later.
A delay could mean the findings are not available for the 2028 global stocktake, which assesses progress on cutting emissions.
Governments supporting a delay say more time is needed for low-income countries to review the findings and raise concerns about developed-country influence on climate science.
- Who
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the governments involved in its meeting.
- What
- The meeting ended without agreement on a publication timetable for the IPCC’s seventh assessment report, AR7.
- When
- The meeting was suspended on 16 October 2026, after a week of talks.
- Where
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Why
- Governments disagreed over the report’s publication date. Some called for more time to review its findings and raised concerns about representation in climate science.
Governments seeking a delay
Scientists and experts backing the 2028 timetable
Publication timing
Governments seeking a delay
Some governments want AR7 delayed until 2029 or later.
Scientists and experts backing the 2028 timetable
Many scientists and experts say it should be published in time to inform the 2028 global stocktake.
Reason for position
Governments seeking a delay
They argue that low-income countries need more time to review the findings and that climate science is dominated by developed countries.
Scientists and experts backing the 2028 timetable
They say a delay could prevent the report from informing the next round of emissions-cutting pledges.
The previous global stocktake took place, shortly before the IPCC finished reporting the results of its sixth assessment, AR6.
The IPCC meeting in Addis Ababa was suspended without agreement on when AR7 should be made public.
The next global stocktake is due to assess global progress on cutting emissions.
- Report
- Seventh IPCC assessment cycle, known as AR7
- Expected publication
- 2028
- Proposed delay
- 2029 or later
- Meeting location
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Next global stocktake
- 2028
3 sources
What people are saying
It impedes global ambition
It’s obviously a delaying tactic