IPCC AR7 Climate Assessment Reports UPSC

Description

IPCC ASSESSMENT REPORTS

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Context: The IPCC, a UN body, concluded the AR6 cycle in 2023, featuring full assessment reports, a synthesis report, methodology reports, and special reports. The ongoing AR7 cycle aims to produce similar comprehensive assessments on climate change.

About the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Its primary objective is to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities.

Membership and Governance

The IPCC consists of 195 member states, which govern its operations.
A bureau of scientists, elected by member states, serves through an assessment cycle lasting about six to seven years.
The bureau selects experts to prepare IPCC reports, drawing from nominations by governments and observer organizations.

Scientific Work and Reports

The IPCC examines relevant scientific literature on climate change, covering natural, economic, and social impacts and risks, as well as response options.
It does not conduct original research but synthesizes existing knowledge to produce comprehensive assessments.
Thousands of scientists and experts volunteer to review publications, and their findings are compiled into "Assessment Reports" for policymakers and the public.

Global Authority and Influence

The IPCC is globally recognized as an authority on climate change, and its findings are endorsed by leading climate scientists and all member governments.
Its reports are cited by various stakeholders, including media, governments, civil society organizations, and businesses.
IPCC reports play a crucial role in international climate negotiations, such as those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and have influenced major agreements like the Paris Agreement.

Assessment Cycles and Special Reports

The IPCC operates in assessment cycles, with the seventh cycle initiated in 2023.
Each assessment cycle involves the publication of comprehensive reports on various aspects of climate change, along with special reports focusing on specific topics.
The sixth assessment cycle (AR6) was described as the most ambitious in the IPCC's history, with the publication of several special reports alongside the main assessment reports.

Initiation of the Seventh Assessment Cycle (AR7)

●Following the completion of AR6, the IPCC initiated its seventh assessment cycle (AR7) by nominating and electing an IPCC Bureau in early 2024.

●The Bureau agreed to produce three categories of reports for AR7:

○Full assessment and synthesis reports, which would include reports from three Working Groups along with a synthesis report.

○Methodology reports, including topics such as short-lived climate forcers and carbon removal.

○A special report focusing on climate change and cities.

●Several member countries requested that the assessment reports be prepared and published by 2028 to coincide with the next global stocktake (GST), as part of the Paris Agreement. However, there were challenges in reaching a consensus on the timeline for the full assessment reports due to concerns about the content, inclusivity, and the time required for review and finalization.

Structure and Organization

The IPCC's structure includes a Panel, a Bureau, Working Groups (I, II, and III), a Task Force, and an Executive Committee.
The Panel, consisting of representatives appointed by governments, oversees the IPCC's work and approves its reports.

Funding and Budget

The IPCC operates through a dedicated trust fund established in 1989, receiving financial contributions from member governments and other organizations.
Contributions to the trust fund are voluntary, and the annual budget is set by the Panel.

Awards

The IPCC received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures needed to counteract such change.
In 2022, the IPCC, along with IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), shared the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. The award was given to both intergovernmental bodies for their contributions in producing scientific knowledge, alerting society, and informing decision-makers to make better choices in combating climate change and addressing the loss of biodiversity.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Key Points	Description
Formation	Established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Objective	To assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
Role	Conducts comprehensive assessments of the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change. Facilitates international cooperation in research and development activities related to climate change. Provides technical and scientific advice to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol. Identifies areas where further research is needed.
Structure	Three Working Groups: ●Working Group I (WGI): Assesses the physical science basis of climate change, including observations, understanding of and attribution to human influence, and future projections. ●Working Group II (WGII): Assesses the vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, including its impacts on ecosystems, human health, food security, water resources, and socio-economic development. ●Working Group III (WGIII): Assesses mitigation of climate change and sustainable development, including options for limiting climate change and its associated risks. Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI): Provides methodological and technical guidance to countries for the compilation of consistent and transparent greenhouse gas inventories.
Participants	Thousands of volunteer scientists from all over the world contribute to the IPCC's assessments. Governments of all 195 member countries of the United Nations or the WMO are represented.
Reports	Assessment Reports (ARs): Comprehensive summaries of the current state of knowledge on climate change, published approximately every 6-7 years. Special Reports (SRs): Address specific issues related to climate change, such as climate change and land use or renewable energy sources and climate change mitigation. Methodology Reports (MRs): Provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.
Assessment Cycle	Preparation: Experts nominate authors and outline the report. Drafting: Authors prepare the report based on peer-reviewed scientific literature. Review: Governments and experts review the drafts, providing comments and suggestions. Approval: Governments line by line and accept or reject the report, with the goal of consensus. Publication: The final report is published.

Conclusion

The IPCC plays a crucial role in shaping global understanding of climate change and informing international efforts to address this pressing issue. Its work contributes significantly to global climate negotiations and policy development.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The concept of "Loss and Damage" highlights that the most vulnerable nations often bear the brunt of climate change despite contributing the least to emissions. How should responsibility for loss and damage be determined, and what mechanisms should exist to help finance adaptation and recovery, particularly in the Global South?