IPCC Chair opens First Lead Author Meeting in Saint-Denis

The IPCC Chair opened the First Lead Author Meeting for the Seventh Assessment Report in Saint-Denis, France.

• Main announcement: The Chair launched the First Lead Author Meeting for AR7 with nearly 700 participants and authors from over 100 countries, noting this is the first time authors from all three Working Groups gather to begin drafting; Working Group reports will start to appear in 2028, the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities is scheduled for release in early 2027 (next Lead Author Meeting in Oslo in January), and the Synthesis Report is scheduled for release in late 2029. The Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories is preparing two methodology reports due in 2027 (Short-Lived Climate Forcers; Carbon Dioxide Removal, CCUS).

• Background and supporting details: The IPCC secured guaranteed access to leading scientific journals through 2028 for developing-country authors via the Social Responsibility Committee of the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers; the Secretariat procured Gender, Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity training to launch at this meeting; Vice-Chairs are strengthening external ties with IPBES, the International Resources Panel, and the World Climate Research Programme; COP30 in Belém (Mutirao decision) references IPCC Sixth Assessment findings.