Pachauri gets UN, Jairam support

Even as experts across the globe are increasing pressure on RK Pachauri to step down as chairman of intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) has come out in his support.

UNFCCC executive secretary Yvo de Boer, who is Delhi, said, “There is one error that has been substantiated on Himalayan glaciers. The IPCC doesn’t do research but assess scientific reports. Yes, there is a mistake, but the rest of the report is robust,”
Boer said.

“It is good that science is continuously being questioned. Every question mark helps to make it more robust,” said Boer, adding that as governments are becoming more serious on climate change, companies are getting more concerned and may be motivating some reporting that is being done on the issue.

“The community of climate experts seems to be divided on the issue but they demand that more detailed scientific research is need on Himalayan glaciers.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh also said the government supports Pachauri at the highest level.

His support to Pachauri comes a day before prime minister Manmohan Singh inaugurates a global event here organised by The Energy and Resources Institute.

Uttam Kumar Sinha, an expert at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), said, “IPCC may have got the date of melting the Himalayan glaciers wrong but there is no doubt that the climate change concern is a serious threat to all of us. There should be a more robust scientific study on the issue.”