The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as adaptation and mitigation options. Since its establishment in 1988, the IPCC has prepared a series of comprehensive assessment reports and special reports that provide scientific information on climate change to the international community to inform policymaking.

Currently, the IPCC is in the process of preparing its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). At its 63rd session, the IPCC considered the workplan for AR7, including the timelines for production of the three working group reports. Working Group I will produce a report on the Physical Science Basis of climate change, Working Group II will report on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, and Working Group III will report on Mitigation of Climate Change.

The timeline for AR7 has been a contentious issue at previous meetings during this cycle. Many panel members are trying to ensure that outputs align with the policy work undertaken by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the second Global Stocktake, which is scheduled for 2028. Others have opposed efforts to align the IPCC’s work with the timelines of other bodies.

The IPCC also considered an outline and workplan for production of the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage. Development of this report was prompted by the emergence of new technologies for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and the potential for generation of new empirical data on carbon sinks and sources. In 2024, the IPCC assigned its Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) to develop this report with the aim of supporting countries’ future inventories and reporting. The report is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

IPCC-63 also addressed the IPCC Trust Fund Programme and budget for the years 2025-2028. Participants heard progress reports from the IPCC Chair and Vice-Chairs, the IPCC Secretariat, the three Working Groups, the TFI, the Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments, the Gender Action Team, and the IPCC Scholarship Programme.

Other items on the agenda for this session included consideration of the financial implications and travel-related greenhouse gas emissions of holding physical, virtual, and hybrid meetings, and the cost implications of extending additional Trust Fund support to increase the participation of representatives of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

The IPCC is made up of 195 governments that are members of the United Nations or the World Meteorological Organization. Its reports are based on the work of thousands of experts who volunteer as IPCC authors.

IPCC-63 convened in Lima, Peru, from 27-30 October 2025.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Jessica Templeton, Ph.D.; Brianna Botchwey; and Deborah Davenport, Ph.D. The Digital Editor was Anastasia Rodopoulou. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.