| March 10, 2010 |  |
Forthcoming IPCC Independent Review is Welcome
Statements by Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy and Francesca Grifo, director of UCS's Scientific Integrity Program
WASHINGTON (March 10, 2010) – Today's announcement by the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the InterAcademy Council (IAC) will review the IPCC's "processes and procedures" for its science assessments was welcomed by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
The IAC, an umbrella organization for national academies of science around the world, is expected to publish its recommendations in August. That will give the IPCC time to incorporate them before it begins work on its Fifth Assessment Report, which is scheduled to come out in 2014.
"This is the right move," said Peter Frumhoff, UCS's director of science and policy and a lead author of the 2007 IPCC report. "If this independent review is carried out with rigor and transparency, it will help strengthen the IPCC's commitment to robust scientific assessments and restore public confidence that has been shaken by an aggressive campaign to sow confusion about climate science."
Francesca Grifo, director of UCS's Scientific Integrity Program, also applauded the announcement. "We rely on science to inform policy because science is self-correcting," she said. "Good science depends on an environment of openness and transparency that allows for input from scientists with different viewpoints. The fact that the IAC is being asked to review IPCC procedures for quality assurance and for handling the full range of scientific views is a step forward."
The IPCC has come under fire in recent months for errors in its 2007 report. The IPCC today stressed that the small number of errors do not undermine the 3000-page report's conclusion that the Earth's average temperature is rising and human activity over the past 50 years is largely responsible. A UCS review of the errors found that they were relatively minor. Additionally, a recent Science article provides a useful overview of the allegations against the IPCC.
UCS's Frumhoff pointed out peer-reviewed research published since 2007 indicates that human impacts on the Earth's climate are likely greater than what the IPCC estimated.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
