The 52nd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-52) concluded with agreement on the outline for the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report.

The outline, which was discussed throughout the week-long meeting and was the subject of contact group discussions on the penultimate evening and last day of IPCC-52, contains a stage-setting introduction and three sections: Current Status and Trends; Long-term Climate and Development Futures; and Near-term Responses in a Changing Climate. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report from the meeting indicates that “some of the more contentious issues that came up during the discussions on the outline related to the carbon budget, timeframes, just transition, and extreme events and loss and damage, among others.”

In addition, delegates at the meeting, which took place from 24-28 February 2020, in Paris, France, discussed the organization of future work of the IPCC in light of the Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement, on which views diverged over a range of options regarding possible alignment of IPCC and GST cycles. Some questioned the need for discussing an alignment at this point, while others suggested other ways of promoting timely inputs to the GST.

The Panel also adopted the IPCC Gender Policy and Implementation Plan, which establishes a Gender Action Team to oversee and monitor implementation of the Plan and develop and implement a protocol and process for addressing complaints. The Panel considered reviewing the Principles Governing IPCC Work, and whether to establish a task team to consider which elements might need reviewing, but participants did not agree on a review process, and the Panel will consider recommendations forwarded by the Bureau at IPCC-53. 

In closing remarks, IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee thanked delegates for their work and efforts, which “paid respect to the spirit of cooperation and upheld the integrity of the IPCC and objectivity of its assessment activities.” [Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of IPCC-52]