UN Climate Report Timing in Crisis: Why Nations Can’t Seem to Find Common Ground

Nations struggled to agree on the timing of the UN’s next big climate change assessment during a lengthy meeting in China. Notably, US representatives didn’t attend.

The main point of discussion was whether the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) would release its next three-part report before the UN’s 2028 review of global climate action. Many wealthy nations and those facing severe climate impacts pushed for a quicker timeline. They believe updated reports are crucial for guiding policies based on the latest science.

However, some oil-producing nations and major polluters, including India and China, opposed this view. After a meeting that extended beyond a day, participants agreed to continue work without setting a specific deadline for the next report.

Zhe Yao, a global policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia, expressed disappointment at the deadlock, stating, “This only benefits those who want to delay climate action, while vulnerable countries cannot afford to wait.” Every delay, he noted, is frustrating for those seeking urgent solutions.

– ‘Time is not on our side’ –

Compounding the discussion was the absence of the US, as President Trump rolled back earlier climate initiatives. Experts warn that the US’s lack of participation could hinder global scientific progress. Johan Rockstrom, a leading climate scientist from the Potsdam Institute, stressed the importance of international cooperation for prosperity and resilience.

As the talks unfolded in Hangzhou, the backdrop included 2022 being the hottest year on record and growing concern about climate change’s rapid effects. UN officials emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Time is not on our side,” warned Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme, urging for ambitious outcomes.

Earlier, the UN’s first stocktake in 2023 highlighted the slow pace of climate action. This led to a bold call at the COP28 climate summit for a transition away from fossil fuels. The IPCC has warned that if current trends continue, the world could surpass the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the early 2030s. Some studies suggest this alarming milestone could happen even sooner, before the end of this decade.

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