Our ref.: 5115-21/IPCC/P53bis To the Executive Heads of International and other Organizations

Our ref.: 5115-21/IPCC/P53bis To the Executive Heads of International and other Organizations Geneva, 16 February 2021 Dear Sir/Madam, On behalf of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), I am addressing you on the subject of the Fifty-Third (bis) Session of the IPCC (IPCC-53bis) proposed to be held from 22 – 26 March 2021 by electronic means. [...] Following the consultation conducted with IPCC Focal Points on the format, date and agenda of the Fifty-Third (bis) Session of the IPCC (Letter 5109-21/IPCC/P53bis), the Secretariat has received 31 written responses and has taken note of the feedback and views received. [...] Given the current situation caused by the global pandemic and in view of minimizing further disruption to the IPCC process as much as possible, Member countries (except from one) expressed their support on the necessity of holding the IPCC-53bis in the virtual format. [...] As for the agenda items, the most cited to be discussed during the session are as follows: 1 – Progress reportsi 2 – AR6 Strategic Planning Schedule 3 – Review of Principles Governing IPCC Work In view of the above, the Panel at IPCC-53bis will be invited to consider the agenda items on the AR6 Strategic Planning Schedule; the Review of Principles Governing IPCC work, as well as the Draft Report o. [...] Further information about IPCC-53bis, including the provisional agenda, meeting documents and an explanatory note regarding the organization of the session, as well as the process for the discussion of documents will be made available on the IPCC website www.ipcc.ch as soon as possible.