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    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

    Also known as IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

    The IPCC is the UN body for assessing climate change science, set up by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988; its 2021 assessment concluded that human influence has unequivocally warmed the planet.[1][2] Its seventh assessment cycle is under way, including a 2027 methodology report on carbon dioxide removal, but governments had not agreed when the main reports will be published as of October 2026.[3][4]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated Climate science and carbon removalEnergy and climateScience
    Key facts

    What the IPCC does

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988.[1] Its reports are drafted by author teams in working groups, and every report passes through multiple review stages, starting with expert review.[5]

    Key findings of the Sixth Assessment (AR6)

    The Working Group I report of 2021 concluded that it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.[2] It put the best estimate of equilibrium climate sensitivity at 3 °C, within a very likely range of 2–5 °C.[6] It found that each 1,000 billion tonnes of cumulative CO2 likely causes 0.27–0.63 °C of warming, the relationship behind carbon budgets.[7] It also stated that abrupt changes and tipping points cannot be ruled out, and that the Atlantic overturning circulation is very likely to weaken this century.[8][9]

    The seventh cycle (AR7)

    Beyond the three main working group reports, the IPCC has scheduled a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities for March 2027.[10] In October 2025 governments agreed the scientific content of a 2027 Methodology Report on carbon dioxide removal technologies and carbon capture, utilization and storage, covering methods such as direct-air-capture and beccs.[3] Expert review of the first draft of the Working Group II report on impacts and adaptation runs from 9 October to 4 December 2026.[5]

    The timeline dispute

    At its 64th session in Bangkok, which closed on 27 March 2026, the Panel made no formal decision on the AR7 timeline; governments said they want it agreed at the next session.[4] Carbon Brief and Third World Network reported that the split is over whether the working group reports should appear before or after the Paris Agreement’s second global stocktake, which concludes in 2028, with China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia among countries favouring later publication.[11] The 65th session meets in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 12–16 October 2026.[12]

    Questions readers ask

    What is the IPCC?

    The UN body for assessing the science related to climate change, established by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988.[1]

    When is the next big IPCC report?

    Not yet fixed. At its March 2026 session the IPCC made no formal decision on the AR7 timeline, and governments said they want it agreed at the next session, held in Addis Ababa on 12–16 October 2026.[4][12]

    Is the IPCC working on carbon removal?

    Yes. In October 2025 governments agreed the scientific content of a 2027 Methodology Report on carbon dioxide removal technologies and carbon capture, utilization and storage.[3]

    Why is the AR7 timeline disputed?

    Countries disagree on whether the main reports should come out before or after the second global stocktake under the Paris Agreement, which concludes in 2028.[11]

    Sources

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Status shows how well established it is.

    1. [1]

      The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change, established by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    2. [2]

      The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report states that it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. confirmedas of 2021-08-09

    3. [3]

      In October 2025 IPCC member governments agreed the scientific content of a 2027 Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage. confirmedas of 2026-03-27

    4. [4]

      At its 64th session in Bangkok, which closed on 27 March 2026, the IPCC made no formal decision on the timeline of its Seventh Assessment Report, though governments said they want it agreed at the next session. confirmedas of 2026-03-27

    5. [5]

      Expert review of the first draft of the IPCC's AR7 Working Group II report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability runs from 9 October to 4 December 2026. The IPCC says expert review is the first of multiple review stages foreseen for every IPCC report. confirmedas of 2026-10-07

    6. [6]

      The IPCC's best estimate of equilibrium climate sensitivity, the long-term warming from a doubling of CO2, is 3 °C, with a very likely range of 2–5 °C. confirmedas of 2021-08-09

    7. [7]

      The IPCC found a near-linear relationship between cumulative CO2 emissions and warming, with each 1,000 billion tonnes of CO2 likely causing 0.27–0.63 °C of warming (best estimate 0.45 °C). confirmedas of 2021-08-09

    8. [8]

      The IPCC states with high confidence that abrupt responses and tipping points, such as strongly increased Antarctic ice-sheet melt and forest dieback, cannot be ruled out. confirmedas of 2021-08-09

    9. [9]

      The IPCC assessed that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is very likely to weaken over the 21st century in all emissions scenarios. confirmedas of 2021-08-09

    10. [10]

      The IPCC's Special Report on Climate Change and Cities is scheduled for approval and publication in March 2027. confirmedas of 2026-03-27

    11. [11]

      Carbon Brief and Third World Network reported that governments are split over whether the AR7 working group reports should come out before or after the second global stocktake that concludes in 2028, with China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia among those favouring later publication. confirmedas of 2026-04-02

    12. [12]

      The IPCC's 65th plenary session is scheduled for 12–16 October 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 10, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 10, 2026. Next scheduled review: Oct 17, 2026.

    Cite this page

    "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)." ContentLora, updated Oct 10, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/ipcc

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