Post the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) plenary meeting at Busan last week, IPCC chairperson, R K Pauchauri has not just hands full with the various reforms that will be made in the workings and structure of IPCC, he is on a new mission to get governments to implement robust climate policies.
Allaying all the talk of him being removed from the climate chief’s position, he said “he was on a mission and a task that he will not give up,” He also explained that those who objected were people whose interests do not suit climate science.
UN IPCC Chairman and director general TERI, R K Pachauri shared his thoughts on the climate crisis, the lack of a binding climate deal and his position as the IPCC chairman with the The Times of India. Excerpts from an interview:

Q. Post the glacier goof up in the fourth impact assessment report (AR4), you have started work on the AR 5 report. What will be the highlights?

A. AR 5 was approved a year ago and we have chosen as many as 831 lead authors for the report. We had a total of 3000 nominations out of which we had choose. This shows that the scientific community is very enthusiastic about the report. Post the controversy over the glacier issue; we have taken on board the recommendations made by the Inter Academy Council (IAC). Some of them can be implemented immediately to tighten our procedures. Others are essentially related to management issues which will be gradually put in to place.

Q. There were reports that you would step down. Were they true?

A. Why should I step down? I am on a mission. I was elected by acclamation. The impact assessment reports have been given adequate attention. I have a task that I will not give up. I will see that governments implement whatever is required to deal with climate change.

Q. Don’t you think there is skepticism in the communities and educational forums about climate science post the glacier controversy?

A. I am not sure that there is any skepticism, our science is solid and robust. Glaciers are melting. AR 4 has been accepted by world leaders. The ones that are not to accept climate science is because it doesn’t suit them. Any new area of knowledge is met with some resistance. For those who have resisted, we welcome questioning but they cant take the science for granted. People have to believe the reality of climate change. Almost a 100 world leaders at COP15 met to debate and discuss climate change. I have not seen a single world leader who does not believe that climate change will impact us.


Q. Do you think that there will be a legally binding deal at the upcoming climate meet at Cancun?
A. It is very difficult to predict but I hope that we make progress and don’t lose sight. We have enough evidence to push for action.

Q. What was your meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday about?

A. Zardari and I discussed the terrible flood that affected the region recently. At the SAARC summit this year at Thimpu , climate was the central theme. We have to have a common response to natural disasters. Natural disasters unfortunately don’t respect politics and we have no other options but to share our experiences and build common strategies.

Q. what about the vulnerable areas in India. Do you think we have a response system in place for extreme events in remote places like in Leh this year?

A. again the common South Asian response mechanism has to happen. In AR 4 we have already shared that there are going to be extreme precipitation events and SAARC countries should have a collective approach. In fact there were discussions about SAARC environment ministers common investments in facilities. A lot of collaborative research has to happen to come up with rational solutions.

copyright: The Times of India