16 February 2010 | Luca Del Buono
Carbon, Climate Change, Energy, Legislation

 

More scandals abound in IPCC report, which has fueled more scepticism over climate change science. Trouble began when a misprint of a prediction about the Himalayan glaciers was found.

The report said the glaciers could melt by 2035 if climate change went unchecked, but it should have stated 2350.

The media has begun to dub the scandals as "-gates" in reference the United States' infamous Watergate scandal.

Currently, "Climategate," "Africagate," "Seagate" and "Amazongate" have all received coverage.

The increasing doubt over the IPCC's findings does not discredit the fundamental principles of climate science.

But it has intensified debates and polarised members of the scientific community, likely hindering further research from publication for fear of backlash.

The majority of the criticisms relate to statistics in the report that either seem to exaggerate or accelerate the impact and rate of climate change. Critics have also tried to discredit sources that produced the questionable statistics.

While very few scientists question the fact that climate change is happening, many scientists do believe the climates' past and future are somewhat uncertain.

This does not change the fact that world governments are still pushing economic policies that incentivise lower greenhouse emissions and renewable energy research.

Without a doubt, the IPCC will review their findings more extensively in future publications. Of the alleged "-gate" scandals, the IPCC acknowledges that the Himlayan misprint and an incorrect measurement of the amount of the Netherlands that lies below sea level were both mistakes.

In all other allegations, the IPCC has done it's best to weather criticism thrown at it by sceptics and still hopes to release its Fifth Assessment report in 2013.

Author: Michael Good | Climate Action

Images Provided by: zugaldia | Flickr

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