Timing of Climate Science Reports Ignites a Hot Fight at U.N. Talks

Several countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels want to delay the next round of scientific assessments that governments use to inform their climate policies. The U.N.-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produces landmark reports that generally come out every five to seven years. The next round of reports would take on topics like physical changes to the earth and greenhouse gas emissions.

Timing is critical because in 2028 nations are supposed to assess their progress and then ramp up their efforts to do more, based on the best science. That process, known as a stocktake and occurring every five years, is the engine of the Paris Agreement. Saudi Arabia, India and Russia are among those pushing to delay the reports so that at least two of them come out after 2028.

The fact that those nations rank among the largest fossil fuel exporters or importers has led to accusations that coal, oil and gas interests might be interfering with science. “Saudi Arabia is trying to destroy the I.P.C.C.