Watson Loses Chair of Climate Panel

Environment News Service (ENS)

Watson Loses Chair of Climate Panel

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 19, 2002 (ENS) - Transatlantic divisions over climate change were reconfirmed today when Dr. Robert Watson, the outspoken chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), was ousted with American support but against European wishes.

Pachauri

Rajendra Pachauri is the new chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Photos courtesy ENB)

In a secret ballot of 125 governments, 61 percent voted against Dr. Watson and for Indian engineer economist Rajendra Pachauri, currently the IPCC's vice chairman.

The incumbent had fought to serve a second five year term, with support from European Union countries.

Watson is credited with forging global scientific consensus on key issues within the IPPC. The IPCC in turn has played a strong role in galvanizing political support for policy responses to the threat of global warming.

The IPCC is a joint project of the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization. The 2,500 researchers and other experts who are part of the panel have led international efforts to assess the science behind human and natural causes of climate change since it was formed in 1988.

Watson

Former IPPC chairman Dr. Robert Watson

Watson, an atmospheric researcher and the chief scientist at the World Bank, is considered one of the world's leading experts on climate change. He is a strong proponent of the idea that human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels are the primary forces behind the warming climate, and that efforts to combat global warming must focus on reducing human emissions of greenhouse gases.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth alleged his expulsion was due to lobbying by the U.S. government and American energy businesses. Exxon is the group's main target for anger, following a revelation that in 2001 it urged the U.S. government to replace him.

The IPCC vote comes just as EU environment commissioner Margot Wallstr�m prepares to visit America in a bid to narrow the transatlantic divide over environmental issues, and particularly climate change.

On Tuesday, Wallstrom and Pachauri will both attend a first meeting of the new EU-US High Level Representatives on Climate Change.

Upon her departure, Commissioner Wallstrom said, "It is important that we work together with the U.S., even if we disagree on some specific issues, such as climate change. There is scope for cooperation on many issues and we can make a decisive impact to ensure a successful outcome at the Johannesburg Summit if we join forces."

{Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's choice for environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd, London. Email: envdaily@ends.co.uk}





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