Pachauri sorry,says will focus on science,keep off policy advice

The chief of the UN’s climate change body has apologised for his organisation’s handling of complaints about errors in the IPCC’s report,but dismissed calls for his resignation. Dr Rajendra Pachauri,the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),also apologised for describing as “voodoo science” an Indian government report that challenged the IPCC’s claims about the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers.

Pachauri (70),Director General of Delhi-based Energy and Resources Institute,said he now plans to adopt a neutral advisory role and focus in future on presenting the science on climate change rather than advocating policies. On the IPCC’s tardiness in responding to complaints and correcting errors — such as it’s claim that all Himalayan glaciers would disappear by 2035 — he said: “Our response has been much too late and much too inadequate.” Claiming support of all the world’s governments,Pachauri rejected calls for his resignation and insisted he would remain chairman until after publication of the IPCC’s next report in 2014.

He denied that by continuing as chairman he was undermining the IPCC’s chances of regaining credibility with the public. “It is not correct to say there are people who don’t trust me”,Pachauri told The Times newspaper.

He admitted that it had been a mistake to give the impression,in many interviews,that he was advocating specific action to cut emissions. Last year,he called for higher taxes on aviation and motoring,and advised people to eat less meat.