Following consultations with Focal Points for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Secretariat decided that IPCC-53 bis would consider three items: the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) strategic planning, the review of principles governing the IPCC’s work, and approval of the draft report of IPCC-52.

In the lead up to the meeting, the Secretariat informed stakeholders there would be no live discussion on progress reports, such as those from the different IPCC Working Groups. Progress reports were available as informational documents on the meeting website and Member States are invited to submit their comments on these reports in writing. As such, the meeting was considered both an electronic and written session.

As has been the case for all intergovernmental processes, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the normal mode of operation for the IPCC, notably causing delays in the scientific work related to the preparation of AR6. IPCC-52, which took place in Paris, France, in February 2020, was one of the last intergovernmental meetings to take place in person before governments adopted measures to limit the spread of the pandemic. Since then, the IPCC Secretariat has been adjusting its work. The first part of IPCC-53 took place in December 2020 and focused only on the IPCC Trust Fund Programme and Budget.

IPCC-53 bis was held virtually over Zoom, modulating daily meeting times to accommodate a range of time zones. It was open to pre-registered representatives of Member States and observer organizations. Interpretation into the six official UN languages was provided throughout.

IISD, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, produced daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report of IPCC-53 bis.