Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 October 2026- The 65^th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been suspended without agreement on the timeline for its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) or the budget for 2027.

At the heart of the disagreement is when the IPCC’s next major climate assessment should be completed. Many developed countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and some Least Developed Countries(LDCs) want the AR7 working Group reports completed by 2028, in time for the next Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement. Many other developing countries have emphasised the need for a timeline that allows meaningful participation and rigorous scientific review. Discussions on the budget are also linked to decisions on the timeline.

Demand Climate Justice (DCJ) emphasised the importance of both timely scientific assessments and an inclusive, transparent and member-driven process for reaching decisions.

‘Scientific urgency and equity must go hand in hand. Meaningful inclusion is not simply about funding an additional delegate to attend IPCC meetings. Developing countries must also have sufficient time and resources to engage with scientific literature, review the assessments and contribute meaningfully to the process. Without this, the inequalities in participation that already exist risk being perpetuated,” said Meena Raman, Deputy Director, Third World Network.

DCJ also reiterated its call for a rapid and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels, emphasising that urgent climate action cannot wait for the next IPCC assessment. 

“The urgency of climate action has not changed. We need climate science that is both timely and inclusive, and a process that gives developing countries a meaningful voice. The science is already clear on the need for rapid emissions reduction. Equity and historical responsibility require developed countries to do their fair share of global mitigation efforts by moving first and fastest in cutting emissions, while providing finance, technology and capacity-building support to developing countries,” said Rachitaa Gupta, Global Coordinator, Demand Climate Justice.

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