IPCC concludes scoping for Special Report on Climate Change and Cities

The IPCC concluded a scoping meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 5 December 2025, gathering over 100 experts to define its Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, scheduled for release in early 2027. With cities producing roughly 70 percent of global emissions, the report will shape municipal planning standards relevant to India's rapidly urbanizing cities.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded a four-day scoping meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 5 December 2025, gathering over 100 global experts to define the structure of its Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. As a core component of the Seventh Assessment Cycle, participants drafted an outline addressing how rapid urbanization intersects with worsening extreme weather, covering infrastructure durability, social equity, and governance frameworks. The report responds to cities accounting for approximately 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and housing more than half the world's population.

Mayors, national governments, and municipal planners are the primary audiences, with the report emphasising decarbonizing urban energy systems, transportation, and building stocks. Real estate portfolios and urban supply chains gain a risk-mapping tool, while informal settlements and Global South communities receive dedicated attention through sections on vulnerabilities and climate justice. Implementing bodies such as UN-Habitat and international city networks are expected to use the findings to update global urban standards and unlock large-scale climate finance for municipal projects.

Policymakers and businesses should monitor the chronological process: the IPCC will present the draft outline for Panel approval in early 2026, followed by a global call for author nominations before drafting begins. The final report is scheduled for release in early 2027, timed to influence municipal planning for 2030 climate targets and the next round of national contributions. Affected entities should track findings on nature-based solutions, building codes, and capital expenditure for coastal protection and zero-carbon infrastructure.

Key figure — Report release timeline: early 2027, addressing cities' roughly 70 percent of global emissions