The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change halted its week-long meeting in Addis Ababa on Friday without establishing a firm timeline for releasing its seventh comprehensive assessment report on climate science. The report, known as AR7, was originally scheduled for publication in 2028 but faces pressure from several governments to delay release until 2029 or later.
A coalition led by Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India, joined by China and Kenya, has objected to the 2028 publication date, contending that climate science research is dominated by developed nations and that this imbalance has influenced scientific conclusions. These countries argue that postponing the report would allow for greater participation and contribution from developing world researchers. However, many scientists and climate experts express concern that delaying the assessment would prevent it from informing the next round of national emissions reduction commitments scheduled for discussion at the Cop33 climate summit in late 2028, a critical moment when governments conduct their second comprehensive evaluation of progress toward Paris agreement climate targets.
The IPCC maintains that it already implements measures to incorporate scientists globally and actively monitors equity concerns to prevent developed-country bias. The organization notes that most research destined for AR7 has already been published and is under review, making it difficult to incorporate new scientific sources at this late stage. Some observers note that the nations seeking delays possess substantial scientific infrastructure and economic resources that could enable independent research efforts or support for developing-country science initiatives.
One potential compromise involves allowing the first section of the four-part report, covering fundamental climate physics, to proceed on the 2028 timeline while permitting later sections addressing climate impacts and solutions to be delayed. A group of 117 scientists, many from developing countries, has issued a public commitment to continue their work regardless of governmental disputes, emphasizing that their assessment incorporates diverse evidence sources including research from the Global South and Indigenous knowledge.
The disagreement is expected to surface during Cop31 climate talks scheduled for next month in Turkey, where governments will address their commitment to addressing the climate crisis amid significant environmental challenges globally.
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