EU vows to defend climate science as Cop31 talks expose global divisions

The European Union has pledged to defend scientific research at the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey, accusing some countries of attempting to undermine the world's leading authority on global warming amid a growing dispute over the publication of crucial climate reports. Issued on: 13/11/2026 - 19:39Modified: 13/11/2026 - 19:39 3 min Reading time The disagreement centres on the timetable for the next major assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose findings help shape international efforts to tackle global warming. Brussels and dozens of other countries want the reports published in time for a major review of global climate action in 2028, while Saudi Arabia, China and India are among those pushing to delay their release until 2029. With negotiations in Antalya approaching their halfway point, the dispute threatens to complicate efforts to reach an agreement at the UN summit. "We will fight for this outcome to be there," senior EU climate official Diana Acconcia told reporters on Friday, acknowledging that bridging the differences would "not be so easy". "There are some parties that are trying to undermine what science is telling us because they don't want to do what it takes to address climate change," she said. "It is as simple as that," she added, describing the debate as increasingly polarised. World leaders begin talks at Cop31 climate conference but big names missing Scientific evidence At the heart of the disagreement is the IPCC's seventh assessment report, part of a series of comprehensive scientific evaluations published roughly every seven years. These reports bring together the latest research on rising temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions and the consequences of climate change, providing governments with a scientific foundation for their policies. The EU wants the latest findings available ahead of the 2028 global stocktake – a key assessment under the Paris Agreement that measures collective progress towards international climate goals. European negotiators argue that using the most recent scientific evidence will be essential to assessing whether countries are doing enough to limit global warming. Pierre Friedlingstein, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter who has contributed to previous IPCC assessments, backed that position. "It is always best for policy decisions to be based on the most up-to-date science," he told reporters in Antalya. "Updated figures are more appropriate than figures that are seven years old." He added that fresh evidence could help accelerate political decisions, although this might not suit governments reluctant to strengthen their climate commitments. Several negotiators at Cop31 suggested that some countries were concerned that updated assessments could highlight the widening gap between existing climate policies and the measures needed to meet international targets. Pacific nations await climate billions, as fossil fuel divide looms over Cop31 December meeting The dispute has already caused difficulties within the IPCC itself. Its most recent meeting in October failed to produce an agreement on the publication timetable, forcing discussions to be suspended until 1 December. IPCC chairman Jim Skea warned at the opening of Cop31 that the impasse was creating operational difficulties and threatening the organisation's reputation. He urged governments to use their influence during the Antalya summit to help secure an agreement when talks resume. The IPCC relies on scientists who volunteer their time to produce its assessments, making prolonged uncertainty over publication schedules particularly challenging. Countries supporting a delay argue that developing nations need sufficient time to examine and absorb the thousands of pages of complex scientific findings before they are used in international negotiations. However, that position is not shared by all developing countries. The Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries (Aosis) group – representing more than 70 nations particularly vulnerable to climate change – have already backed publication in 2028. Their support strengthens the EU's argument that an earlier timetable would benefit countries facing the most immediate consequences of global warming. Nevertheless, achieving a breakthrough in Antalya will be difficult. Decisions at UN climate summits require consensus among nearly 200 participating countries, giving opponents considerable influence over the outcome. For the EU, the dispute has become a test of whether governments are prepared to allow the latest scientific findings to guide international climate policy. (with newswires)