IPCC expert on fighting to keep to the science as global climate politics flares

A climate science group under the United Nations recently faced a fight over the date of its next set of reports – a seemingly small squabble that could have big implications on future global climate policy. Many countries want these reports, covering the science behind the latest trends and ways to tackle the growing risks, by 2028, in time for a review of whether global climate efforts are sufficient. But others want a longer timeline, an ask that critics think represents some governments avoiding advice they do not want to hear. So how does this whole process work? What is the IPCC doing in the years between the major reports, and what challenges do they have to deal with? More broadly, how is the IPCC keeping itself useful – given that most people today generally think they know enough about climate change? The interaction and debates between science and policymakers becomes “more heated” as global warming raises the stakes for governments to get climate action right, Dr Theresa Wong, head of science at the technical support unit of IPCC’s Working Group II, tells the Eco-Business Podcast. Tune in as we discuss: - The latest work on an IPCC special report on cities - Upcoming work to finalise contents for the next set of main assessment reports - What the debate over report timelines show about the state of science and policymaking today - Whether the interface between policy, politics and science benefits climate action - How the IPCC can keep itself relevant amid greater public understanding of global warming

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