Himalayan glaciers won’t melt by 2035: Jairam Ramesh
January 18th, 2010 - 7:28 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Himalayan glaciers are “indeed” receding, which is a cause for great concern, but the view that these rivers of ice would melt down completely by 2035 due to global warning is “alarmist” and without any scientific basis, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Monday.
“It is a serious issue. Most of the Himalayan glaciers are in a poor state, but the report that suggested that the glaciers will vanish completely by 2035 is alarmist and misplaced,” Jairam Ramesh told reporters.
He was referring to the study by the Nobel prize winning group - United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - that claimed that most of the Himalayan glaciers would melt by 2035.
The Rajendra Pachauri-led UN panel had warned that the melting of glaciers would have far-reaching consequences for India. However, new evidence has emerged to suggest that the IPCC may have been mistaken.
The IPCC’s claim was based on an article in the New Statesman, London, which had borrowed the statement from India’s glaciologist and Padma Shri recipient Syed Iqbal Hasnain.
“The study was not made on any scientific evidence,” Jairam Ramesh said.
- Pachauri too doubts if glaciers would vanish by 2035 (Lead) - Jan 18, 2010
- Pachauri calls Indian govt. report on melting Himalayan glaciers as "voodoo science" - Jan 09, 2010
- India will fight attempts to unseat Pachauri: Jairam Ramesh - Mar 15, 2010
- UN climate body admits goof up on Himalayan glaciers - Jan 20, 2010
- Pachauri concedes mistake, but in no mood to resign - Jan 23, 2010
- India to fight attempts to unseat Pachauri: Jairam (Lead) - Mar 15, 2010
- IPCC admits Himalayan glacier goof-up - Jan 20, 2010
- Pachauri won't quit over glacier blunder (Lead) - Jan 23, 2010
- 'UN warning over Himalayan glacier meltdown based on speculation' - Jan 17, 2010
- Glacier goof-up scientist blames IPCC author - Jan 20, 2010
- UNFCC, government back Pachauri (Lead) - Feb 04, 2010
- Pachauri accepts Himalayan mistake, but won't resign (Third Lead) - Jan 23, 2010
- Scientists slam IPCC blunder, chief goes mum (Roundup) - Jan 21, 2010
- Pachauri accepts mistake, rejects resignation (Second Lead) - Jan 23, 2010
- Government backing Pachauri to the hilt, says Jairam Ramesh - Feb 04, 2010
Tags: climate change, consequences, environment minister, glaciologist, global warning, himalayan glaciers, India, ipcc, iqbal, jairam ramesh, london, melting of glaciers, New Delhi, new evidence, new statesman, nobel prize, padma shri, rajendra pachauri, rivers of ice, united nations