UN climate change panel urged to review methods
February 16th, 2010 - 8:10 pm ICT by IANSStockholm, Feb 16 (DPA) The United Nations was Tuesday urged to review the working methods of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), following recent disclosures of mistakes in the organisation’s reports.
The call was made by Gunnar Oquist, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that awards the Nobel prizes for physics and chemistry, as well as the economics prize.
One mistake published in an IPCC report in 2007 claimed that Himalayan glaciers would melt away by 2035.
“The IPCC has in some cases apparently jumped to conclusions based on deficient data,” Oquist told the Svenska Dagbladet daily.
In order to maintain the climate change panel’s credibility, it needs to review how the mistakes were made and address them, he said.
The IPCC does not conduct original research, but assesses findings in scientific publications. Often these reports are subjected to peer-review and editorial processes.
Although he did not call for IPCC head Rajendra Pachauri to resign, Oquist noted that disclosures of this kind usually have consequences.
The IPCC in 2007 shared the Nobel Peace Prize for its work on climate change with former US vice-president Al Gore. The peace prize is awarded by a committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament.
- Science writer Fred Pearce asks Dr. Pachauri to step down as IPCC Chairman - Oct 03, 2010
- IPCC admits Himalayan glacier goof-up - Jan 20, 2010
- Glacier goof-up scientist blames IPCC author - Jan 20, 2010
- IPCC looking for communications manager to tackle crisis situation - Dec 27, 2010
- Pachauri won't quit over glacier blunder - Jan 23, 2010
- Pachauri too doubts if glaciers would vanish by 2035 (Lead) - Jan 18, 2010
- IPCC chief goes mum on Himalayan glacier blunder - Jan 21, 2010
- Pressure mounting for Rajendra Pachauri to resign as IPCC head - Sep 23, 2010
- Put on notice, India's Pachauri tasked with carrying out IPCC reform - Oct 20, 2010
- Pachauri under pressure to resign over Himalayan glacier goof up - Feb 04, 2010
- Pachauri calls Indian govt. report on melting Himalayan glaciers as "voodoo science" - Jan 09, 2010
- Erstwhile climate saint Pachauri battles allegations to retain credibility - Feb 09, 2010
- Himalayan glaciers won't melt by 2035: Jairam Ramesh - Jan 18, 2010
- Pachauri won't quit over glacier blunder (Lead) - Jan 23, 2010
- World leaders rally in support of Pachauri - Feb 05, 2010
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