At Giec, we do our best to reach a consensus. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we move in slightly different directions,” said Jim Skea, the president of the group of scientists, acknowledging divisions. “But I believe that the spirit of compromise and flexibility unique to Giec has finally shown itself,” he assured, closing the expert working session in Bangkok, according to a statement from the organization. The meeting of scientists and government representatives, from Tuesday to Friday, was supposed to be primarily technical for this group bringing together experts from around the world. They publish assessment reports every five to seven years, serving as a benchmark for climate science. But a contentious issue of scheduling was added to the agenda this week at the request of Saudi Arabia and India, risking to block the meeting, according to diplomatic sources.
Divergences on the schedule
This schedule deeply divides countries. Some want the next IPCC report to be published by 2028 to inform COP33, which will likely take place in India, and which must produce the crucial second “global assessment” of climate efforts made since the Paris agreement. Their argument: that policymakers have the best scientific information to take ambitious action. But other countries like India, Saudi Arabia, or China oppose this and prefer the report to be published in 2029, arguing the need to take time to integrate new scientific data and research from developing countries. “Some of the arguments are obviously quibbles,” lamented a government source from a developing country in December.
