16 March 2018: The 47th plenary session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 47) adopted a number of decisions, including on the establishment of tasks groups on gender and on the organization of the Panel’s future work in light of the global stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement on climate change. The IPCC also agreed on the task groups’ terms of reference (ToR).

Regarding the latter, discussions at the plenary session revolved around how, and even whether, the IPCC should align its work with that of the UNFCCC. Following contact group and informal consultations, the Panel decided that the task group will discuss how to organize the IPCC’s work, considering scientific information needs of the GST and the UNFCCC more generally. On gender, the Panel decided the task group will develop a framework of goals and actions to improve gender balance and address gender-related issues within the IPCC.

IPCC 48 will convene during the first week of October 2018 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to approve SR15.

The Panel also took decisions on, inter alia: the IPCC Trust Fund and budget; enhancing developing country participation in IPCC activities, including through the convening of pre-plenary briefing sessions; and the future of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA), which was renamed the Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data). The IPCC agreed on the ToR for the TG-Data and guidance for the Data Distribution Centre (DDC) associated with it.

In its decision on the Scholarship Programme, the Panel considers using the Programme to supplement support for PhD students by funding travel and honoraria for early career.

The IPCC also heard presentations by the three Working Group (WG) Co-Chairs on the reports from the WG Bureaux regarding the selection of Coordinating Lead Authors (CLAs), Lead Authors and Review Editors for WG contributions to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which is expected to be completed in 2022.

In addition, IPCC 47 heard progress reports on communication and outreach activities and on other sixth assessment cycle products, including:

• Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15);
• Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL);
• Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC); and
• Methodology Report to refine the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories.

IPCC 47 met in Paris, France, from 13-16 March 2018. On 13 March, the Government of France hosted a 30th anniversary celebration of the IPCC, which provided an overview of the origins and evolution of the Panel, as well as the history of climate science.

The next IPCC plenary session will convene during the first week of October 2018 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to approve SR15. IPCC 49 will convene in May 2019 in Kyoto, Japan, to approve the Methodology Report to refine the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. [IPCC 47 Webpage] [IPCC 47 Presentations and Speeches] [IISD RS Coverage of IPCC 47]