The session opened after a lighting of lamp ceremony by H.E. Mr Thiru A. Raja, Minister of Environment and Forests, India and other dignitaries. Following this a number of speakers noted the significance of ensuring that the findings of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) reach the public at large, and the need for AR4 to highlight research in developing countries. UNEP Executive Director highlighted the significance of the work of the IPCC for related policy processes, and commended the increased involvement by women and developing country authors in the AR4. Mr Halldor Thorgeirsson highlighted the importance placed by the UNFCCC on climate monitoring, the ongoing revision of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting guidelines, and good practice guidance on land use, land-use change and forestry.

The Sixth session of the IPCC approved the report of the fifth session and agreed on many issues including establishing an IPCC Task force to make proposals on the future structure of IPCC. The Panel also decided on an interim expansion of the IPCC Bureau.

Different speakers addressed the Panel. Among other decisions of the Nineteenth Session of the IPCC: the Panel decided that well before the next round of elections the Chair would bring to the Panel a proposal describing the rules and procedures to be adopted by the IPCC when conducting elections. The Panel also decided on the terms of reference, draft table of content and draft workplan for developing definitions for degradation of forest and devegetation of other vegetation types, and methodological options to inventory and report on emissions resulting from these activities.

Among other topics, the panel introduced a proposal for further work on emission scenarios, which was developed based on the recommendations of the Task Group on New Emission Scenarios, established following a decision by the Panel at its 23rd Session. In the plenary debate several countries expressed support for the proposal and some underlined the need to also cover the requirements of impact, adaptation and vulnerability studies, the importance of regional scenarios and developing country involvement in scenario development. Some concern was expressed that integrated scenarios may go beyond the scope of the IPCC. Different views were expressed about the IPCC role in scenario development, including the view that the IPCC should no longer itself commission or direct scenario development. The suggestion was also made to draw on the expertise of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Assessment (TGICA). It was recommended to take a clear decision on the future role of the IPCC and to focus in the further consultations on aspects where urgent decisions were required.

The Chair gave his opening address, outlining the issues faced by the Panel in preparing for the Fourth Assessment Report and highlighted the rigorous efforts undertaken thus far in scoping the structure and contents of the report. The Panel noted that the preparation of an AR4 SYR that would meet the expectations of most delegations would require extensive consultation and the early and full commitment of many of those who would also be involved in the preparation of the individual Working Group (WG) reports. It noted that the AR4 SYR could: Bring together the main messages from the individual WG reports: Synthesise cross-cutting information from the individual WG reports, including the AR4 cross-cutting themes: Provide a top-down perspective for decision makers on issues covered by the AR4: Produce an overview of the key conclusions of AR4 in non-technical and readily translatable language: Re-assess the policy relevant questions addressed in the TAR SYR.