Timing of Climate Science Reports Ignites a Hot Fight at U.N. Talks

What the report says

A dispute over when the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports should be released has become a major point of contention at the U.N. climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, where COP31 talks are underway. The issue centers on whether the scientific assessments should be completed before 2028, when countries are due to take stock of progress under the Paris Agreement and strengthen climate action. The IPCC, which does not do original research but reviews and synthesizes existing science, typically publishes major reports every five to seven years.

According to the New York Times, Saudi Arabia, India and Russia are among the countries urging a delay, with China and Kenya also listed among those favoring slower timing. Supporters of postponement say the panels need more time for government review and want to avoid overburdening smaller delegations, while critics argue that delaying the reports would weaken the science available for the next global stocktake. Some climate leaders, including former Vice President Al Gore and the prime minister of Tuvalu, said the issue raises concerns that fossil fuel interests are influencing the process.

Small island and developing nations, along with the European Union, want all three upcoming IPCC reports finalized before the 2028 review period. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has also backed that position, and European officials warned that the disagreement could complicate broader negotiations. The article says the impasse has left the IPCC’s budget unresolved and could affect other COP31 outcomes if no compromise is reached.