On Monday, 13 March 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) opened its 58th session to complete the last elements of its Sixth Assessment Report: the Synthesis Report and its Summary for Policymakers. The session takes place in Interlaken, Switzerland, and is scheduled to run until 17 March.
The Synthesis Report is the final instalment of the IPCC. It integrates and summarizes the findings of the Six Assessment Reports (AR6) released by the IPCC during the current cycle, which began in 2015. This includes three special reports elaborated by the three IPCC working group contributions (WGI: Physical Science, WGII: Vulnerability & Adaptation, WGIII: Mitigation options and solution pathways) to the AR6.
IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee, which opened the session, confirmed that "once approved, the Synthesis Report will become a fundamental policy document for shaping climate action in the remainder of this pivotal decade. For policymakers of today and tomorrow, a much-needed textbook for addressing climate change. Inaction and delays are not listed as options." Besides, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres released a video message.
After the 58th Session of the IPCC and subject to the Panel's approval of the Summary for Policymakers as well as the adoption of the more comprehensive report, the Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report will be presented at a hybrid press conference scheduled for Monday, 20 March 2023 at the 14:00 p.m. CET.
The IPCC reports are the scientific roadmap for how the leaders tackle the climate crisis in this all-important decade. IPCC is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. Its role is to assess the risks of human-induced climate change, potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. Thousands of scientists worldwide contribute to the work of the IPCC voluntarily.
