The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) commenced its 62nd Plenary Session on February 24, 2025, in Hangzhou, China, marking a pivotal moment in global climate strategy development. Delegates from 195 member countries convened to deliberate on the outlines of the three Working Group contributions to the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) and the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization, and Storage. These discussions aim to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into comprehensive climate assessments, underscoring the IPCC’s commitment to addressing multifaceted climate challenges.  

IPCC Chair Jim Skea emphasized the session’s significance, stating, “This is a pivotal session for the delivery of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report.” The agenda includes finalizing the outlines for reports from Working Group I (Physical Science Basis), Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability), and Working Group III (Mitigation of Climate Change). These efforts are crucial for informing ESG frameworks and guiding sustainable investment decisions worldwide. 

However, the session faces challenges due to the recent withdrawal of the United States from the IPCC process, as reported by Reuters. This move has raised concerns among other nations about potential delays in the global climate assessment, which could impact the 2028 Paris Agreement stocktake—a critical evaluation of collective progress toward climate goals. The absence of U.S. participation may hinder the development of unified ESG strategies and weaken global climate governance.

References
https://www.ipcc.ch/2025/02/18/ipcc-meeting-hangzhou/
https://wmo.int/media/news/ipcc-opens-session-hangzhou-china
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/countries-warn-against-delaying-global-climate-assessment-after-us-exit-2025-02-21/