By Abbas Nazil
More than 100 leading climate scientists from 56 countries have gathered in Bhopal, India, for a crucial meeting to finalise the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, a landmark publication expected to shape global urban climate action.
The Fourth Lead Author Meeting, taking place from August 3 to 7, 2026, is being hosted by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) with support from the Government of India.
The meeting brings together experts tasked with refining the final draft of the report, which will assess the latest scientific evidence on how climate change is affecting cities worldwide, while identifying practical adaptation and mitigation measures to help urban communities build resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Scheduled for completion in March 2027, the report is the only Special Report being produced during the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Cycle.
It is expected to serve as a key scientific resource for policymakers, city planners and governments seeking evidence-based strategies to address climate risks in rapidly urbanising areas.
The report consists of five chapters prepared by a team of 97 experts representing 56 countries, including four scientists from India.
Its development follows an extensive scientific review process designed to ensure credibility, transparency and global representation.
The report’s outline was agreed during the IPCC’s 61st Session held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in July 2024 after an extensive scoping exercise earlier that year.
The drafting process began during the First Lead Author Meeting in Osaka, Japan, in March 2025.
A second meeting in Mombasa, Kenya, in July 2025 enabled authors to prepare the First Order Draft, which was opened for expert review between October and December 2025.
That draft attracted more than 32,000 review comments from over 1,300 experts, reflecting the significant global interest in climate solutions for cities.
Authors later met in Oslo, Norway, in January 2026 during the Third Lead Author Meeting to address those comments and prepare the Second Order Draft.
The review process was further strengthened through the participation of Review Editors, whose responsibility is to ensure that every substantive review comment receives appropriate consideration before the report progresses.
The Second Order Draft recently completed its Government and Expert Review in July 2026.
It received more than 25,000 comments from about 960 government representatives and expert reviewers across 102 countries, highlighting the extensive international scrutiny applied to the report.
During the ongoing Bhopal meeting, authors are examining these comments in detail while working towards a final draft that will later be circulated to governments before undergoing a final approval session involving both scientists and government representatives ahead of publication.
Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II, Bart van den Hurk, described the gathering as a critical milestone in producing the report.
He noted that the exceptionally high volume of review comments demonstrates the report’s global significance and reaffirmed the commitment of authors to carefully consider diverse perspectives before finalising the document.
Prof. Raman Sukumar, National Science Chair at the Centre for Ecological Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and Vice-Chair of IPCC Working Group II, welcomed participants to the IIFM campus in Bhopal.
He expressed confidence that the report would become an important scientific reference for cities worldwide by supporting efforts to adapt to climate change while advancing measures to reduce emissions and promote sustainable urban development.
