Vijay Kumar Raina is amused. The 76-year old retired geologist who lives in Sector 17, Panchkula in Haryana has been blitzkrieged by the media, government, world scientist community and the average citizen since December 2009.
However simple this may sound, it makes a lot of difference to the authenticity of the data collected. By November, the first snowfall has already taken place because of which it is very difficult to identify the outline of the glaciers. That’s why many glaciers outlined in the maps show much larger outlines than actually present. So, when the SAC compared the current size of glaciers using satellite imagery with the 1962 maps they obviously found a lot of shrinkage. “We told the minister that we do not agree what SAC says. At least that is our experience of the glaciers we have gone to,” adds Raina.
It is the IPCC’s motivation and hand-in-glove nature with policy makers that have come into question. “It is not a scientific body and it has become a political body, dedicated to distorting evidence to support the view that human emissions are dangerous,” says Gray. Kenber, on the other hand, believes that it is inevitable that a scientific body so closely aligned with a political process will come under intense scrutiny.
(This story appears in the 05 March, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Although I'm a layperson, I'm deeply interested in the subject of climate change. Thank you for this article. My mother told me when I was a child, that the truth would make me free, though it would probably first make me miserable. Here's hoping that any misierableness that results from this does not fall into Mr. Raina's area.<br /> <br /> JP
on Feb 21, 2010Looks like the IPCC knew the 2035 claim wa false as far back as 2001 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7176262/Climate-makes-money-move-in-mysterious-ways.html
on Feb 22, 2010The wording used in the IPCC section was almost identical to that used by the Indian journal "Down to Earth" back in April 1999. The WWF report wasn't released until 2005 and probably just repeated that earlier report. The IPCC even repeated DtE's incorrect annual average rate of retreat of one glacier.
on Feb 23, 2010Sites looking Brilliant, love the new image sizes
on Feb 25, 2010I read every article in papers. I am proud of you....lots of love to you and aunty...PINKY
on Mar 20, 2010