UN pledges tighter controls after melting glaciers blunder

Head of climate change refuses to resign over false claims
Robin McKie, science editor
The Observer, Sunday 24 January 2010
The head of the UN's panel of climate scientists, Rajendra Pachauri , has dismissed suggestions that he should resign over an erroneous projection that Himalayan glaciers would disappear by 2035, though he pledged that future research procedures by his organisation would be tightened up.
A 2007 report from the Inter­governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said global warming could cause the Himalayas' thousands of glaciers to vanish if it continued at its current pace. But Pachauri, head of the panel, told reporters in New Delhi that he regretted including the forecast in the report. In fact, projections suggest glaciers in the Himalayas will not disappear for another 300 years.
However, Pachauri insisted the mistake should not obscure evidence that climate change was a real threat. "Our procedures are very robust," he said. "All we need to make sure about is the fact that we adhere to implementing these procedures."
Pachauri brushed aside questions about whether the error would strengthen the hand of climate change sceptics. "Rational people… see the larger picture. They are not going to be distracted by this one error," he said. "I have no intention of resigning from my position."
Were the glaciers to disappear, it would badly disrupt water flows in Asia that are vital for irrigation. Flaws in IPCC reports can be damaging, since the findings are a guide for government policy.