Saudi Arabia, India and Russia Push to Delay Key Climate Reports
Saudi Arabia, India and Russia are pushing to delay several reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change so that at least two of them are published after 2028, according to The New York Times. The panel, known as the IPCC, is a body backed by the United Nations that assesses climate science for governments. Its landmark reports generally come out every five to seven years.
The timetable has become one of the central issues at the U.N. climate conference in Turkey. The dispute centres on reports that would cover topics including physical changes to the Earth and greenhouse gas emissions, the gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
The timing matters because of a scheduled moment in the climate process. In 2028, nations are due to assess progress and step up their efforts based on the best available science. That review, a five-yearly process known as a stocktake, is described as the engine of the Paris Agreement, the international climate accord under which countries have committed to limiting global warming.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who is attending the Turkey talks, said Saudi Arabia is trying to destroy the IPCC. He said the aim is to prevent the next global stocktake from using accurate scientific data on fossil fuels.
