[Coral-List] IPCC and coral reefs

[Jean-Pierre Gattuso]

Steve,

The IPCC is actually not politicised. The production of the report is 
led and performed by scientists without any political interference. As 
scientists, we sometimes complain about the review process of 
manuscripts which we submit to journals. This process involves an 
average of 2-3 reviewers and a few comments. The report of Working Group 
of the IPCC went through 3 drafts which were reviewed by 1729 experts 
from 84 countries and 49 governments. A total of 50,492 comments were 
made, and each of them was addressed by the author team. The whole 
process is transparent and can be consulted on the IPCC web site. I 
cannot think of a scientific document that is more thorough, accurate 
and reliable than the IPCC report.

The only potential political interference is about the Summary for 
Policy Makers which is written by scientists but needs approval by 195 
countries. My understanding is that material that is not present in the 
main report cannot be added, but material can be removed (from the SPM) 
and the formulation of sentences can be changed although in a way that 
does not contradict the main report.

If the IPCC is not politicised, it is not the case of the negotiations 
that take place during Conferences of the Parties (COP) of the United 
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This is where an 
agreement on reductions of CO2 emissions must be reached by governmental 
negotiators.

Jean-Pierre


----
Jean-Pierre Gattuso | http://www.obs-vlfr.fr/~gattuso

On 9 May 2014, at 22:03, Steve Mussman wrote:

> Thanks for providing the links to the latest IPCC report and summaries 
> regarding coral reefs and marine ecosystems. As to whether it helps or 
> not is another question. As you are well aware, the issue of climate 
> change and even the IPCC itself have become so politicized that one 
> has to wonder if the science even matters. It seems that the lines 
> have been drawn and it is now as much about ideological predisposition 
> as it is about science. Polarization occurs instantly at just the 
> mention of the IPCC or the term climate change. Coral listers haven't 
> been polled or asked to take sides, but we can all read between the 
> lines. Reactions have become predictable even before the next study, 
> report or summary can be released. Scientific integrity loses out in a 
> world where facts can be manufactured to fit individual beliefs. More 
> and more we are becoming entrenched in diametrical realities even 
> while recognizing that our destinies are linked on this one little 
> planet.    Steve