The Science and Politics of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Current Challenges in Informing Policy

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is in its Seventh Assessment Cycle and under more strain than at almost any point in its history. Stalled procedural votes and disputes over basic timelines have led to questions about the processes by which the IPCC works and how it informs policymaking, particularly the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition, the United States withdrew from the IPCC entirely in January 2026, leaving an institutional gap. This panel brings together scholars who study the IPCC to explain what is driving the gridlock and what is at stake for climate policy.

Speakers:

Danielle Falzon, Rutgers University

Jessica O’Reilly, Indiana University Bloomington

Kari De Pryck, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Sreeja Jaiswal, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany

Moderated by: Beth Martin, Washington University in St. Louis