Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific intergovernmental body. Its main task is to evaluate the risk of climate change caused by human activity. It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), two organizations of the United Nations. The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President of the United States Al Gore.
The IPCC panel’s assessment reports are result of the immense work done by their scientists to put together evidence from real researchers so that the world gets the real picture on climate change. These reports have made us to change our outlook on Earth’s climate. They have led to an unparalleled accord among governments about fossil fuels leading to a rise in global temperatures. But a series of recent developments have made people doubt on the panel’s reports.
It started with the panel’s claim in one of the reports that there was a “high likelihood” of Himalayan glaciers disappearing by 2035. Indian government opposed this assessment report. Later the panel withdrew the report saying that the assessment refers to poorly substantiated estimates of rate of recession and date for the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers. In drafting the paragraph in question, the clear and well-established standards of evidence, required by the IPCC procedures, were not applied properly. It was revealed that IPCC used an unpublished report and “misrepresented” it to show a link between climate change and an increase in losses from natural disasters.
Now again a controversy has arised over IPCC’s assessment that 40 per cent of Amazon forests were threatened by global warming a claim critics say was based on speculation.
Some scientists feel that IPCC should acknowledge the areas of disagreement among scientists and state the other point of view.
