IPCC Opens 62nd Plenary Session in Hangzhou to Advance 7th Assessment Report

IPCC Chair Jim Skea emphasized the session's significance, stating, “This is a pivotal session for the delivery of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has convened its 62nd Plenary Session in Hangzhou, China, marking a critical step in the development of the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). Delegates from 195 member governments have gathered to discuss and finalize the draft outlines for the contributions of the three Working Groups, as well as to determine timelines and budget allocations for the forthcoming reports.

Key Objectives of the Session

During the week-long session, over 400 delegates will review and agree upon the draft outlines of the three core Working Group contributions:

• Working Group I: Examining the physical science basis of climate change.
• Working Group II: Assessing climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability.
• Working Group III: Exploring strategies for mitigating climate change.

Additionally, discussions will include the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, as well as methodologies for measuring emissions and removals, overseen by the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

Leadership and Key Statements

IPCC Chair Jim Skea emphasized the session's significance, stating, “This is a pivotal session for the delivery of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report.”

China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin and Chen Zhenlin, Administrator of the China Meteorological Administration, welcomed delegates and observer organizations at the opening ceremony.

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett highlighted the urgency of the IPCC's work, noting that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with global temperatures reaching approximately 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. “If it isn’t true yet, I would venture to say it will be soon, that every one of us will know somebody who has been affected by an extreme event like severe flooding or extreme heat,” she stated.

The ceremony also featured video messages from Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Role of the IPCC in Global Climate Action

The IPCC, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNEP, plays a crucial role in informing climate policy by assessing thousands of scientific studies annually. Its reports provide comprehensive insights into the causes, impacts, and future risks of climate change, along with adaptation and mitigation strategies.

As the IPCC moves forward with AR7, its findings will help shape international climate policies and commitments, ensuring that governments and stakeholders have the latest scientific evidence to guide their decisions in tackling the climate crisis.