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Context:

• The IPCC is an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It also has started working on its 7th round of climate reports.
• The Chairperson of IPCC announced this at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS). Which was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

• Previous Reports (6th Cycle):
  • The 6th round of reports was from October 2015 to July 2023. It included:
    • 6th Assessment Report (AR6)
    • Reports from 3 working groups
    • A Synthesis Report
    • 3 Special Reports
    • A new Methodology Report
  • These reports helped countries during climate talks & guided efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels and switch to clean energy.
• About IPCC:
  • The IPCC is the United Nations body. It assesses scientific information related to climate change.
  • It was Established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) & United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
  • Membership: 195 governments from the UN & WMO are members.
• Objectives:
  • The main goal of the IPCC is to assess scientific, technical, & socio economic information about human induced climate change.
  • It helps governments to understand the impacts of climate change & find ways to adapt & mitigate its effects.
  • The IPCC provides reports that guide governments in developing climate policies.
• Activities:
  • Reports include assessment reports, special reports, and methodology reports.
  • These reports play a role in international climate negotiations under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
• How the IPCC Works:
  • The IPCC does not conduct new research or monitor climate data.
  • Instead, it evaluates the findings of existing, peer reviewed scientific studies.
  • Thousands of scientists volunteer to assess the latest studies each year & create a comprehensive summary on the drivers, impacts, & future risks of climate change.
• IPCC Reports Timeline:
  • The 1st assessment report was released in 1990.
  • The 6th Assessment Report (AR6) was completed in 2023.
  • The IPCC has now entered its 7th Assessment Report (AR7) cycle.
• Working Groups: The IPCC has 3 working groups. Each is focusing on different aspects of climate science & response:
  • Working Group I: It Focuses on the physical science of climate change.
  • Working Group II: it examines the impacts of climate change and how to adapt.
  • Working Group III: it looks at ways to mitigate climate change.
  • Each working group produces its own report, which is later compiled into a final synthesis report.

What is The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• It is an international environmental treaty aimed at combating dangerous human interference with the climate system.
• Its primary objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent harmful impacts on ecosystems, food production, & economic development.

Key Details:

• Adoption and Implementation: The UNFCCC was adopted during the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and entered into force on 21 March 1994.
• Membership: As of 2022, the Convention has 198 parties, including all UN member states, the State of Palestine, Niue, Cook Islands, and the European Union
• Conference of the Parties (COP): The supreme decision making body of the UNFCCC, the COP, meets annually to assess progress in addressing climate change
• The Convention has also led to subsequent agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997) & the Paris Agreement (2015), which set binding emission reduction targets and long term climate goals.

 Source: TH