IPCC faces deadlock over budget and report timeline

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has entered a period of uncertainty following the 65th plenary session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Member states failed to reach an agreement on the budget and the scientific timeline for the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), leading IPCC President Jim Skea to prematurely suspend deliberations.

A group of nations, including Saudi Arabia, China, India, and Russia, blocked a proposed schedule that would have completed the report before the 2028 Paris Agreement global stocktake. These nations advocated for a delay until 2029, arguing that researchers from developing countries require more time and resources to contribute effectively.

While some nations cited the need for greater inclusivity of the Global South, critics such as Bill Hare of Climate Analytics suggested that the delay might be used to protect national interests related to fossil fuels. Conversely, representatives from vulnerable regions, including the Marshall Islands, have condemned the impasse, expressing concern over the impact of delayed scientific guidance on climate policy.