Pachauri sorry for handling of errors in IPCC's report

London, Mar 27 (PTI) The chief of the UN's climate
change body has apologised for his organisation's handling of
complaints about errors in the IPCC's report, but dismissed
calls for his resignation.

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, the chairman of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), also
apologised for describing as "voodoo science" an Indian
government report that challenged the IPCC's claims about the
rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers.
70-year-old Pachauri, the Director General of New
Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute, said he now
plans to adopt a neutral advisory role and focus in future on
presenting the science on climate change rather than
advocating policies.
On the IPCC's tardiness in responding to complaints
and correcting errors - such as its claim that all Himalayan
glaciers would disappear by 2035 - he said: "Our response has
been much too late and much too inadequate."
Claiming support of all the world's governments,
Pachauri rejected calls for his resignation and insisted he
would remain as chairman until after publication of the IPCC's
next report in 2014.
He denied that by remaining in post, he was
undermining the IPCC's chances of regaining credibility with
the public. "It is not correct to say there are people who
don't trust me", Pachauri told The Times newspaper.
He admitted that it had been a mistake to give the
impression, in many interviews, that he was advocating
specific actions to cut emissions.
Last year he called for higher taxes on aviation and
motoring, and advised people to eat less meat. He also
proposed that hotel rooms should have electricity meters to
charge people extra for using air conditioning.
"I will try to clarify that I'm not prescribing
anything as a solution. Maybe I should be more careful (in
media interviews) in laying down certain riders. One learns
from that and I'm learning," said the head of the IPCC, which
shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice
President Al Gore.
Of his "voodoo science" comment, Dr Pachauri said: "It
was an intemperate statement. I shouldn't have used those
words. I have to show respect to people who have worked on a
particular subject."
He said the review of the IPCC announced this month
would not consider his role or his actions. The review, by a
panel drawn from the world's leading science academies, will
only consider the IPCC's procedures. (MORE) PTI HSR
KAB


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