The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is meeting in Addis Ababa this week to discuss its seventh comprehensive assessment report on climate science, known as AR7. The report was originally scheduled for publication in 2028, timed to inform deliberations at the UN climate summit Cop33 scheduled for later that year. The global stocktake at Cop33 is intended to evaluate whether governments are meeting their commitments under the Paris agreement to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
A coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, alongside India and China, is advocating to postpone the report’s release to 2029. Proponents argue the delay would enable greater participation from developing nations in the scientific review process, contending that climate science has been dominated by wealthy countries and institutional bodies from the EU, UK, and US. They cite concerns about equity in the scientific contributions to the assessment.
However, vulnerable nations strongly oppose any delay. Ministers from 34 countries in the High Ambition Coalition, representing some of the world’s poorest and most climate-threatened nations, called Friday for expedited publication. Officials from the Marshall Islands and Sierra Leone emphasized that political considerations should not override the need for timely scientific guidance in climate negotiations. The group contends that delaying the report could undermine the effectiveness of the Paris agreement framework.
Experts point to geopolitical challenges complicating climate action, including hostile policies toward climate initiatives from major powers and rising populist opposition to environmental regulations globally. The IPCC operates with the principle of independence from government interference, though summary documents for policymakers require approval from participating governments. Some observers question the consistency of arguments from major developing economies about equity, while noting that structural imbalances in climate science models remain difficult to resolve within a short timeline. The dispute has created divisions within environmental organizations, with some civil society groups considering support for a delay.
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