Amidst London Climate Action Week 2026, Professor Sir Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), shared an update on critical reports in progress. The IPCC's seventh assessment cycle is underway, with seven planned reports due for publication over the coming years.
The focus was on three key reports to be released in 2027: a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, Methodology Reports on Short-lived Climate Forcers and Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, alongside Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage. These documents will provide vital insights and methodologies for addressing pressing climate challenges.
Sir Jim confirmed the timeline for the broader Seventh Assessment Report, outlining that contributions from Working Groups are progressing, with the Synthesis Report scheduled for publication in late 2029. This report will consolidate findings across scientific disciplines, offering a global overview of climate change science, impacts, and responses.
Discussions during his address highlighted ambitious Paris Agreement goals, emission scenarios, and concerns over the potential exceedance of a global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This underscores the urgency and complexity of IPCC work guiding international climate policy and action.
The IPCC's assessment reports underpin international negotiations and national policy-making, providing a scientific basis for understanding climate change. The forthcoming reports will further refine our understanding of specific challenges and solutions, offering crucial data for governments, industries, and communities grappling with the impacts of climate change.