The IPCC is beginning the process to approve its latest report on impacts of climate change. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is considering the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report.

The report, a second instalment of the Sixth Assessment Report, integrates more strongly natural, social and economic sciences, highlighting the role of social justice and diverse forms of knowledge such as indigenous and local knowledge. 

It also reflects the increasing importance of urgent and immediate action to address climate risks. 

The report brings more knowledge at local and regional levels and linkages between biodiversity and climate change.

Overall, it continues to show that climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying.

“This is the final phase of a strict and meticulous review process of the report assessing impacts, adaptation and vulnerability to climate change, integrated across scientific disciplines inclusive of diverse forms of knowledge,” said the Chair of the IPCC, Hoesung Lee.

“Over the next two weeks, governments and scientists together will scrutinise the Summary for Policymakers line-by-line. 

“Collectively, they will deliver a sound, tested and robust Summary. Its findings will be critically important for policymakers around the world. 

“I have no doubt that we will see constructive and collaborative work in the next two weeks as we work across all time zones to deliver this report.”

Experts from all over the world provided over 16,000 comments on the first-order draft of the report. 

Experts and governments provided more than 40,000 comments on the second draft of the full report and the first draft of the Summary for Policymakers. 

The final government review of the Summary for Policymakers received about 5,700 comments. The report references over 34,000 scientific papers.