Abstract:

As climate change intensifies, developing a systematic and forward-looking framework for climate mitigation assessment has become a critical issue in global governance. Building upon the foundations of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the Working Group III (WGIII) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has undertaken a comprehensive restructuring of its Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), focusing on improving policy relevance, governance dimensions, and technological pathways. Notable advancements in AR7 include the introduction of ex-post policy assessment, enhancing cross-sectoral integration, expanding analysis of green finance, increasing attention to demand-side strategies and social equity, and the establishment of dedicated chapters on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and ocean-based mitigation. This paper reviews the development and structure of the AR7 WGIII framework, summarizes the key contributions and limitations of AR6, and analyzes the major areas of refinement in AR7. Drawing on China’s ongoing climate policy practices, the paper proposes targeted recommendations such as strengthening policy evaluation, breaking sectoral silos, deepening green finance reform, advancing demand-side mitigation, and accelerating CDR deployment. It further calls for enhanced research in critical frontier areas to better support future IPCC assessments and elevate China’s knowledge contribution and influence within the global climate governance architecture.

Key words: IPCC AR7, Working Group III, Climate change mitigation, Climate policy, Carbon neutrality