The UN IPCC

While looking for topics for this weeks blog I think it is becoming clearer that I need to sort a few things out if you, not unlike I was at the beginning of this endeavor, are not that familiar with what is really happening in the world of climate change. Whenever you talk about world-wide Climate Change laws, rules, or co-operation, you must talk about the International Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.htm) According to their website:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the leading body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences.

The IPCC is a scientific body. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC on a voluntary basis. Review is an essential part of the IPCC process, to ensure an objective and complete assessment of current information. Differing viewpoints existing within the scientific community are reflected in the IPCC reports.

What strikes me as odd is the last sentence in the final paragraph, and what degree this conflicts with virtually everything I have been told by the experts interviewed for the film. IPCC reviewer Hans Lebohm specifically told me that “the reality is that there is no communication about the comments of the climate skeptics.” Further if one examines the beginning paragraph you can see that there is no opening for any debate on whether Global Warming is actually happening, if you ask the IPCC it is happening… and there will be environmental and soci-economic consequences. When you eliminate all dissenting opinions from your analysis, it becomes remarkably easy to come to the conclusion you desire. It’s clear that those in favor of Global Warming legislation have a large UN body to help push their costly agenda, while those who are against ludicrous spending and ideas are often stipend and brushed aside.

The Global Warming Initiative (GWI)