Climate Concerns Rise Amid Delays in UN's Global Climate Assessment

The European Union, Britain, and climate-vulnerable nations are concerned about delays in the UN's climate assessment due to the U.S. administration's withdrawal. The report is crucial for the Paris Agreement's 2028 stocktake, impacting global climate policy and action against warming.

The European Union, the United Kingdom, and climate-vulnerable developing nations have expressed grave concerns about potential delays to the forthcoming global climate assessment by the United Nations climate science panel, following the U.S. administration's decision to withdraw from the process. The absence of U.S. scientists could affect the timely completion of the report.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), responsible for evaluating the planet's climate health, will convene in Hangzhou, China, to strategize on its next global report. EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra, alongside ministers from 17 countries, emphasized the urgency of having all working group contributions prepared for the Seventh Assessment Report on time, as stated in a joint declaration.

A delayed report might impact the 2028 Paris Agreement 'stocktake,' where countries evaluate progress in climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, U.S. policy changes under President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to cut federal spending have led to reduced funding for climate-related initiatives, drawing criticism from vulnerable nations who depend on the IPCC's scientific findings.

(With inputs from agencies.)