UN panel seeks ways to better assess climate science
October 15th, 2010 - 7:59 pm ICT by IANSBusan (South Korea), Oct 15 (IANS) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said it will make major changes in the way it works to ensure best assessment of climate science.
The panel considered a number of recommendations made by the InterAcademy Council (IAC) in its independent review into the processes and procedures of the IPCC, it said in a statement Thursday after the end of its plenary session here.
IPCC chair Rajendra Pachauri and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for this review jointly in March 2010.
The IAC published its review Aug 30.
The recommendations include guidance on uncertainty, non-peer-reviewed literature and addressing potential errors.
In addition, the panel agreed to set up a task group that will address the setting up of an executive committee, review key responsibilities of the secretariat, as well as the terms of reference of Chairs and Co-chairs of the Working Groups.
The IPCC decided to implement a rigorous conflict of interest policy and set up a task group to propose options.
It accepted the recommendation to develop a communication strategy and formed a task group to address other IAC recommendations related to IPCC procedures for the preparation of the assessment reports.
The IAC review highlights the contribution the IPCC has made to improving the understanding of the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of climate change.
The work to prepare the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), to be published in 2014, remains on course and will benefit from the panel’s decisions, the statement said.
Speaking after the conclusion of the plenary meeting, Pachauri said: “I am pleased that the panel has accepted a number of important recommendations which were made in the IAC review.
“These will strengthen the IPCC and ensure it is able to effectively perform its role in accurately assessing climate science. I look forward to working with the panel to continue the process of reform.”
The IPCC is an interdisciplinary and intergovernmental body comprised of 194 participating countries.
- Put on notice, India's Pachauri tasked with carrying out IPCC reform - Oct 20, 2010
- India will back Pachauri irrespective of criticism - Aug 31, 2010
- Pachauri to stay despite adverse review of UN climate panel - Aug 31, 2010
- New IPCC report to focus on Asian monsoon issues - Oct 16, 2010
- IPCC chief Pachauri welcomes debate on climate science - Jun 16, 2010
- UN Secretary-General asks IPCC to go under the scanner - Mar 11, 2010
- Chairman Dr. Pachauri under the scanner as review of IPCC workings opens - May 14, 2010
- Rajendra Pachauri must quit, says Britain's ex-minister - Sep 24, 2010
- IPCC dilutes stand linking cyclones to climate change - Nov 30, 2011
- Pressure mounting for Rajendra Pachauri to resign as IPCC head - Sep 23, 2010
- U.N. Climate Panel Work To Be Reviewed By Independent Body - Mar 11, 2010
- Pachauri under pressure to resign over Himalayan glacier goof up - Feb 04, 2010
- India to fight attempts to unseat Pachauri: Jairam (Lead) - Mar 15, 2010
- UN begins review of its climate panel work - Mar 11, 2010
- UN climate change panel urged to review methods - Feb 16, 2010
Tags: assessment report, ban ki moon, climate science, co chairs, communication strategy, conflict of interest, conflict of interest policy, economic aspects, executive committee, guidance, intergovernmental panel on climate change, intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc, plenary session, secretariat, south korea, task group, terms of reference, un secretary general, uncertainty, working groups