IPCC Opened 65th Session in Addis Ababa
The assembly is realigning project timelines and leadership to ensure the delivery of the Seventh Assessment Report.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Environmental
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has convened its 65th Plenary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the session, the body is addressing scheduling gaps for the Seventh Assessment Report while managing a funding shortfall.
Why it matters
The Panel must finalize administrative timelines to clarify volunteer commitments and bridge a significant funding gap as it moves toward the publication of upcoming methodology reports. These structural adjustments are necessary to maintain the production schedule for its global assessment cycles.
The IPCC is currently funded at one-third of its approved 2026 budget through voluntary contributions. The Panel has established an Informal Group on Artificial Intelligence to evaluate how automated tools can assist the 1,000 global volunteer authors during the assessment process.
The players
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The international scientific body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change.
Annett Moehner
The incoming Secretary of the IPCC who will assume her leadership role on November 1, 2026.
The details
The Plenary is reviewing progress across three Working Groups, with the Working Group I expert review having concluded in October 2026 and Working Group II beginning its review the week of October 5. Working Group III, which focuses on mitigation, held its second lead author meeting in late September 2026. The Bureau is now auditing these schedules to resolve gaps and ensure the upcoming methodology reports on short-lived climate forces and carbon dioxide removal remain on track for their 2027 release.
Timeline
Working Group III held its second lead author meeting in September 2026.
Working Group I draft expert review concluded in October 2026.
The 65th Plenary Session opened in Addis Ababa on October 12, 2026.
Annett Moehner begins her term as IPCC Secretary on November 1, 2026.
The IPCC will participate in the 32nd COP in November 2027.
The Tech Race
This session marks a critical administrative adjustment phase within the established Seventh Assessment Report research cycle. The Panel is moving to integrate AI tools to accelerate assessment workflows while managing the global reliance on volunteer author expertise.
This session determines the research and policy focus for international climate strategies through 2027. Future methodology reports on carbon dioxide removal and short-lived climate forces will provide the foundational data used by policymakers and industry leaders to guide regional climate regulation.
The takeaway
The IPCC is prioritizing administrative stability and author support to ensure its assessment pipeline meets its 2027 publication goals. Readers should track the release of the upcoming methodology reports on carbon dioxide removal, which will set the technical standard for global mitigation efforts.
What happens next
Annett Moehner will officially begin her term as IPCC Secretary on November 1, 2026. The IPCC is scheduled to participate in the 32nd COP in Addis Ababa in November 2027.
Further reading
Follow the latest updates on global climate assessments and research progress in our Environmental section.
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