Himalayan glaciers blunder

Chairman of Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change Dr.R K Pachauri admits the mistake in the panel's report that the Himalayan glaciers will disappear by 2035 due to global warming. Terming the mistake as unfortunate, he said it is a human error and he will do everything possible to see that such mistakes are not repeated.He, however ruled out his resignation over the issue.
He said the next COP is due to be held in Mexico City at the end of this year.
BASIC group and the US agreed on
an accord, the major features of which are:Recognition that the world must not exceed a 2° Celsius warming above preindustrial level.Developed countries to formalise their reduction pledges and for developing countries to state their proposed efforts by February 1,
2010.Provision for the mitigation actions to be monitored nationally and reported in line with guidelines to be worked out.An assessment of the implementation of the accord to be completed by 2015.Establishment of a new Copenhagen Green Climate Fund — to be set up by developed countries by 2012 for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries (EU pledged
$10.6 billion, Japan $11 billion and the US $3.6 billion), and for $100 billion a year to be made available by 2020.Thus Authorises the long awaited forest protection mechanism

The Indian official correspondent says the report became a point of discussion after its findings were challenged. Noted Geologist V K Raina while dismissing the findings of the panal sought an apology from Dr. Pachuri for debunking his findings. PCC had warned that climate change was likely to melt most of the Himalayan glaciers by 2035 - an idea considered ludicrous by most glaciologists.

University of Iceland in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Carnegie Corporation of New York have joined hands to work in the fields of glaciology and soil science, and will enable Indian scientists and students to seek training in Iceland and the United States. The purpose of this joint effort is to improve understanding of the effects of climate change on the Himalaya and the manifold consequences that follow for the possibilities of water management and food production on the plains below.

Present on the occasion was the President of Iceland HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General TERI, and the joint teams from - University of Iceland, Ohio State University and the TERI Glaciology team, headed by Prof Syed Iqbal Hasnain.

Speaking on research and collaboration in the field of glaciers, HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, said, “There is an immediate need to enhance the knowledge of receding glaciers, which will have a major impact on ecology and social security. Consequently, the potential impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region are very likely to have a strong influence on food and water security. Hence it is important to bring the scientists from India and Iceland on a common platform and discuss on the future framework of research cooperation.”

Elaborating on the collaboration, Dr R K Pachauri, said, “The presence of Iceland as a country makes this initiative of great value as Iceland has a great understanding of this issue, which goes back a century. Scientific data assimilated by IPCC is very robust and it is universally acknowledged that glaciers are melting because of climate change. The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) in its endeavor to facilitate the development of an effective policy framework and their strategic implementation for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts on the local population is happy to collaborate with the University of Iceland, Ohio State University and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, under the leadership of HE Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. ”
Sagar Media reports that the official correspondent says the report became a point of discussion after its findings were challenged. Noted Geologist V K Raina while dismissing the findings of the panal sought an apology from Dr. Pachuri for debunking his findings.