The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded a week-long session in Addis Ababa without resolving critical questions about when to release its seventh assessment report. The plenary suspended discussions on Friday evening after delegates proved unable to finalize a schedule for the three working group reports covering climate science, impacts and adaptation, and mitigation strategies.
This marked the sixth consecutive IPCC meeting where countries failed to establish a timeline for the assessment cycle. The stakes were particularly high for this session, as the IPCC chair indicated that publishing all reports before the UN’s second global stocktake in late 2028 would require a decision by the end of 2026. The stocktake represents a formal evaluation of global progress on climate action and is expected to guide future emissions reduction targets and climate finance discussions.
Disputes centered on whether all three reports should be published before the 2028 stocktake or whether some could be released afterward. Developing nations including India, Kenya, Russia and Saudi Arabia argued that their countries needed additional time to prepare and review reports before approval. Conversely, developed nations and small island states contended that having the latest climate science available for the stocktake would strengthen global climate policy decisions.
The disagreement proved intractable despite efforts to narrow options. A contact group chaired by Brazil and Ireland worked through the week to build consensus but reported remaining “a long way from consensus” by Friday morning. The IPCC’s chair described the meeting as a “profound disappointment” and “among the most difficult IPCC meetings” on record. Additionally, countries failed to agree on budget allocations for the assessment cycle, leaving the organization facing what officials characterized as a “serious funding crisis.” The IPCC indicated it would reconvene at the earliest opportunity but has not announced a date for resumed discussions.
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