Source: BBC Radio 4: Today Programme
URL: N/A
Date: 23/09/2010
Event: Roger Harrabin discusses recent calls for the resignation of IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri
Credit: BBC Radio 4: Today Programme
People:
Roger Harrabin: Well, I should say to start with, any chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel is going to get flak. The previous chairman, Bob Watson, now a chief scientist for the UK Environment Department, was hounded out of the office by George Bush because he was too outspoken. And Professor Pachauri's been smeared for several years about financial irregularities, which have not been stood up [sic]. What's really upset people is the mistake he made around the - just around New Year - when it was pointed out that there'd been a dreadful blunder in his big Assessment Report, about when Himalayan glaciers would melt. And instead of dealing with it properly, he brushed it aside, and he got heavy criticism over that. And an enquiry was launched into the workings of the Intergovernmental Panel by the InterAcademy Council - I'm sorry about all these big names, but - that's a sort of international grouping of learned societies, the top scientific bodies in the world.
Sarah Montague: And when they investigated it, they produced a report - because you were reporting on it quite recently - and it didn't bode well for him.
Roger Harrabin: Yes, it said most - more broadly that there needed to be changes to the way that IPCC is run, and I think all those changes, or most of them, will go through. But there was a little bombshell in there, because it said no chair should serve for more than one term. It didn't say anything about Professor Pachauri, but Professor Pachauri is well into his second term. Now I asked the British Government, did that mean they would press for him to go. And they said no, no, it's not all that clear that he should go now, you know, we think he should stay. And I've looked into it further, and obviously what's behind it is politics with only one - people not wanting to upset India. And I decided to phone round people who would be considered to be Professor Pachauri's friends. And a lot of them are saying actually it would be best if he were to resign himself, to save a confrontation with India. Among the people I've spoken to is Tim Yeo, chairman of the Commons Climate Committee, this is what he said.
Tim Yeo: I'm afraid I think that Professor Pachauri should resign. Firstly, he personally has lost credibility, particularly in relation to his involvement in the claim about the melting of the Himalayan glaciers in the next 30 years. And secondly, because of the greater scientific controversy about the climate change debate that has emerged last year, it's vital that this body is led by someone whose academic and intellectual credentials are unquestioned. And unfortunately we can no longer say that about him.
Roger Harrabin: And I should say that he's by no means alone in saying this, Tim Yeo. I've spoken to Professor Sir Brian Hoskins from the Royal Society, an eminent climate scientist, Mike Hulme, climate scientist, leaders of environment bodies, all say the same. And what they're saying is Professor Pachauri, in their opinion, ought to resign to save the embarrassment of confrontation with India. You can imagine the sensitivity of this, we've just been hearing about the Commonwealth Games, and the debacle of the Games, the last thing India wants is another high-profile casualty. So it will be really interesting to see how the politics of this one play out.