NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Monday assured Parliament that India would resist any kind of attempt to unseat Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chairman R.K. Pachauri, asserting that the government had full faith and confidence in him. Replying to supplementaries during question hour in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Ramesh said the government had full confidence in the IPCC Chairman. The IPCC had come under fire for making claims on the melting of Himalayan glacier by 2035. Mr. Ramesh said the government objected to the alarm created by the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC over the melting of glaciers. The report was based on poorly substantiated estimates of recession.
“In drafting the paragraph on the subject in question, the clear and well-established standards of evidence, required by the IPCC procedures, were not applied properly,” he said. “India's objections to the report were upheld and we were vindicated. We are backing IPCC Chairman [Mr. Pachauri] and will fight any attempt to unseat him,” he told the House. The Minister said that while most Himalayan glaciers were retreating, some were advancing. Some glaciers like the Gangotri were retreating at decelerating rate. “Most of the glaciers are retreating and this is a cause of concern. There is a need for systematic approach and methodology to address the issue,” he said.
India, he said, was committed to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change that put the responsibility of cutting emissions on developed countries who were the worst polluters. “The Government is conscious of its responsibility to take steps to address climate change at the global and national level in accordance with the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol,” he said. Mr. Ramesh said the precise reason for the melting of Himalayan glaciers — whether climate change or natural cyclical process — was being studied. “We have set up a National Institute of Himalayan Glaciology at Dehra Dun to measure, monitor and model what is happening to our glaciers. The issue cannot be discussed in isolation and there is a need to take China, Nepal, Bhutan and at some time even Pakistan on board to prepare a common response,” he added.
Source: The Hindu, dated: 16.03.2010
“In drafting the paragraph on the subject in question, the clear and well-established standards of evidence, required by the IPCC procedures, were not applied properly,” he said. “India's objections to the report were upheld and we were vindicated. We are backing IPCC Chairman [Mr. Pachauri] and will fight any attempt to unseat him,” he told the House. The Minister said that while most Himalayan glaciers were retreating, some were advancing. Some glaciers like the Gangotri were retreating at decelerating rate. “Most of the glaciers are retreating and this is a cause of concern. There is a need for systematic approach and methodology to address the issue,” he said.
India, he said, was committed to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change that put the responsibility of cutting emissions on developed countries who were the worst polluters. “The Government is conscious of its responsibility to take steps to address climate change at the global and national level in accordance with the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol,” he said. Mr. Ramesh said the precise reason for the melting of Himalayan glaciers — whether climate change or natural cyclical process — was being studied. “We have set up a National Institute of Himalayan Glaciology at Dehra Dun to measure, monitor and model what is happening to our glaciers. The issue cannot be discussed in isolation and there is a need to take China, Nepal, Bhutan and at some time even Pakistan on board to prepare a common response,” he added.
Source: The Hindu, dated: 16.03.2010
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