Praneet Thakar
Dr. Youba Sokona, an energy and sustainable development expert from Mali and a former vice chair of the IPCC’s sixth assessment cycle, argues that aligning the IPCC’s report timeline with the second Global Stocktake (GST) is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of international climate agreements.
The IPCC’s assessments are essential in shaping climate policies and informing global negotiations, particularly as the GST, a core component of the Paris Agreement, seeks to evaluate progress towards long-term climate goals.
The GST is designed to assess global progress in the context of equity and the best available science, making the timing of IPCC reports critical.
Sokona emphasizes that if the IPCC report does not align with the GST schedule, it could diminish the relevance and impact of the report on crucial climate policy decisions. This alignment ensures that the latest scientific insights inform the GST’s evaluation of climate progress.
Concerns about expediting the IPCC report process include fears that it may undermine the representation of voices from underrepresented communities, particularly those from the Global South.
Additionally, there are worries that accelerating the process could limit the range of topics covered or lead to fragmented integration of insights across the IPCC’s three working groups, which address physical science, impacts and adaptation, and mitigation.
Sokona argues that these concerns can be mitigated by focusing on deliberate inclusion efforts rather than delaying the report. Proactive initiatives, such as fostering networks for Southern scholars and facilitating regional meetings, can enhance the representation of underrepresented communities.
The IPCC has already made strides in incorporating perspectives from developing regions, and continuing this trend requires timely assessments rather than extended timelines.
Finally, Sokona asserts that accelerating the IPCC cycle by a few months would not significantly compromise the report’s quality. Historical evidence suggests that past assessments have been completed within five to six years, and slight adjustments in the timeline are feasible.
Ensuring that the IPCC report is available in time for the GST is essential for providing robust scientific input to global climate policy and ensuring that the voices of developing countries are adequately represented in international climate discussions.
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