By: Dwight Links
UN member nations convened for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meetings in Bonn, Germany this week. Member nations are meeting to iron out necessary matters in preparation for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Türkiye later this year.
Executive secretary for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Simon Stiell, told international delegates that the world has no choice but to deal with climate change.
“All of us here have made an important decision: to tackle the global climate crisis, which is the hardest, most important thing humanity has ever tried to do together,” stated Stiell.
He indicated that all countries, whether industrialised or developing, are in the same boat to solving this globally impacting issue.
“It is worth doing because we have no choice. Every economy and population depends on it. Everyone here has chosen to delegate themselves to this task,” Stiell added.
According to the executive secretary, countries have made strides towards mitigation and response.
“Today, we are not where we are supposed to be, but we have done something. People the world over need this process to start delivering, and increasing speed and scale,” he added.
Stiell noted that the growing threat of a supercharged El Nino later this year is on course to making 2026 the hottest year ever recorded, with rising temperatures already affecting thousands daily.
According to the UN, if nations continue to rely on the fossil fuel industry for energy security, humanity faces the risk of being exposed to climate disasters in future, coupled with uncontrolled inflationary pressures which can further impoverish nations.
PROGRESS OF WORK
IPCC deputy secretary Ermira Fida updated the member nations on the various activities since the last meetings.
Fida’s update looked into the research and report compilation activities that the various teams around the world will conduct, along with existing challenges.
“The first IPCC report to be published in this cycle is the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Its second-order draft is currently being reviewed by experts and governments, through early July,” Fida outlined.
As for the initial draft of the summary for policymakers, this is still under development.
Fida highlighted that two immediate reports on direct climate-impacting factors and carbon capture measures are on course for release in 2027.
“Both methodology reports – the one on Short-Lived Climate Forcers and the one on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage, are also progressing towards their release next year,” she said.
According to the update provided by the deputy secretary, other work developments on updated reports are yet to take shape.
“Work has progressed on several Panel-mandated expert meetings and workshops across diverse topics, including inventories, land use, carbon removal, inclusivity, tipping points, atlas, adaptation metrics and indicators, health and agriculture,” Fida added.
Other functions like workshops for various parts of the world are still underway, with more of these still in development.
The IPCC indicated that its chairperson is currently conducting consultations with member governments on the timelines for three working groups’ reports, which are yet to be agreed on by the Panel at the next Plenary Session in October.
These meetings are considered a crucial stepping stone by the UN agency, aimed at helping to set the agenda for COP31, and to drive targets for immediate action.
