Willow Kennedy
More than six hundred experts appointed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) gathered in Paris this week to begin drafting the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). The five-day meeting marks the first time the IPCC has brought all three Working Groups together at the start of an assessment cycle—a deliberate shift intended to deepen alignment across climate science disciplines. Authors from more than a hundred countries are using the session to shape early drafts and identify the cross-cutting questions that will anchor AR7.
The decision to convene the groups jointly underscores the increasingly interconnected nature of climate research. Physical science findings, adaptation challenges, and mitigation pathways are now so intertwined that separating them early in the process risks missing interdependencies that policymakers need clearly articulated.
“It is apt that France is hosting our first Lead Author Meeting for the Seventh Assessment Report on the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement,” said IPCC Chair Jim Skea. “The meeting marks the beginning of our assessment of the latest science related to climate change. From here on, our focus will be on delivering scientifically robust and actionable findings relevant for the world’s policymakers.”
France Emphasizes Science as a Foundation for Climate Decision-Making
France’s role as host—spanning the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs—signals a coordinated push to reaffirm the Paris Agreement’s scientific foundation. The government framed the meeting not simply as a logistical milestone, but as a statement on the importance of protecting scientific integrity.
“In this year marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, France is proud to host the very first joint meeting of all IPCC authors,” said Monique Barbut, Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature. She emphasized that climate decisions must continue to be rooted in evidence, particularly as nations refine their strategies to cut emissions.
Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, added that France remains committed to defending climate science in a period marked by disinformation and geopolitical tension. He described the country as a “steadfast bulwark against attacks on science.”
Setting the Stage for the Seventh Assessment Cycle
The Seventh Assessment Cycle began in 2023 and will run through 2029, culminating in a Synthesis Report that will integrate findings from across the Working Groups. Governments have already approved the outlines for the three AR7 reports, which will reassess global emissions trajectories, physical climate trends, emerging adaptation limits, and sector-level mitigation options.
Several additional products are scheduled within this cycle, including a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, two methodology reports on carbon dioxide removal and short-lived climate forcers, and updated technical guidance to support adaptation metrics and decision-making.
As countries prepare for their next round of international reporting and global stocktake processes, AR7 will shape expectations for national climate plans and illuminate where current commitments fall short.
Strong Scientific Engagement Marks the Start of AR7
The turnout for the Paris meeting reflects the momentum behind climate research worldwide. “The sheer volume and high level of interest that we received from the scientific community to participate in the IPCC is a positive indication of a global commitment to advance climate action policies that are rooted in science,” said Robert Vautard, Co-Chair of Working Group I.
The drafting process begins with this meeting and will involve multiple rounds of expert and government review. Each stage is designed to ensure a balanced and transparent assessment of the thousands of scientific papers published each year. This week’s gathering represents the first step in that sequence, setting AR7 on a path toward one of the IPCC’s most integrated and policy-relevant assessments to date.
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