17 October 2016: The forty-fourth session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-44) opens today in Bangkok, Thailand, and will meet through 20 October 2016. The Panel will consider issues related to products for the sixth assessment cycle, including the outline of the ‘Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels and related global greenhouse (GHG) emission pathways in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.’

The opening session will be addressed by the IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee, General Surasak Karnjanarat, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand, and senior representatives of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Other products associated with the sixth assessment cycle that the IPCC will consider include: the outline of the Methodology Report(s) to update the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories; a workshop on Climate Change and Cities; and an Expert Meeting on Mitigation, Sustainability and Climate Stabilization Scenarios. IPCC-44 will also consider reports on the status of the establishment of the Technical Support Units (TSUs), participation of developing countries in IPCC activities and the IPCC’s carbon footprint. In addition, it will consider: the IPCC Scholarship Programme; the future of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA); communications for the sixth assessment report (AR6); programme and budget; admission of observers; and procedural matters.

Following IPCC-44, a press conference will be held to discuss the results of the meeting on 20 October. A media workshop and an outreach event took place on 15 October in Bangkok, prior to IPCC 44. [IPCC-44 Website and Documents] [IPCC-44 Provisional Annotated Agenda] [IPCC Media Advisory]