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UN IPCC Head Pachauri Knew About False Glacier Claims Before Copenhagen
The chairman of the leading climate change watchdog was informed that claims about melting Himalayan glaciers were false before the Copenhagen summit, The Times has learnt.
Rajendra Pachauri was told that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment that the glaciers would disappear by 2035 was wrong, but he waited two months to correct it. He failed to act despite learning that the claim had been refuted by several leading glaciologists.
The IPCC’s report underpinned the proposals at Copenhagen for drastic cuts in global emissions.
Dr Pachauri, who played a leading role at the summit, corrected the error last week after coming under media pressure. He told The Times on January 22 that he had only known about the error for a few days. He said: “I became aware of this when it was reported in the media about ten days ago. Before that, it was really not made known. Nobody brought it to my attention. There were statements, but we never looked at this 2035 number.”
However, a prominent science journalist said that he had asked Dr Pachauri about the 2035 error last November. Pallava Bagla, who writes for Science journal, said he had asked Dr Pachauri about the error. He said that Dr Pachauri had replied: “I don’t have anything to add on glaciers.”
CRN Comment: If this is correct, then Pachauri isn’t telling the truth.
Dr Pacharui has also been accused of using the error to win grants worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
CRN Comment: Dubbed ‘Pachygate’ or ‘Pachaurigate.’
Pachauri is Director-General of TERI:
http://www.teriin.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15
Pachauri and Hasnain (who made the erroneous Himalayan glaciers claim) are linked via a Himalayan glacier research project at TERI:
http://www.teriin.org/index.php?option=com_pressrelease&task=details&sid=146
Timesonline: Climate chief was told of false glacier claims before Copenhagen