Finnish scientists call for more openness on climate panel

Mistakes that have been found in the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) do matter, says Professor Atte Korhola of the University of Helsinki.
      “Tremendous expectations have been set for the work and reports of the IPCC, as it virtually has the status of a holy book. Politicians take the attitude that the recipe will come from there.”
      Korhola emphasises that this is not how it goes in science. No knowledge is carved in stone. Science moves forward and things are complicated.
     
People often do not see the impact of climate change in their own everyday lives, and Korhola says that for that reason, the views that they have depend on the credibility of science. He feels that possible mistakes need to be conceded quickly.
      Research Professor Timothy Carter at the Finnish Environment Institute notes that the IPCC’s research is generally very reliable.
      “Most of the mistakes are small, but there are some real mistakes. Science is done by people. When measured against the results, the mistakes that have been found, and which have made the news, are still small.”
     
Korhola feels that one problem is the strong polarisation of the climate debate.
      “Anyone who criticises the details is easily labelled a skeptic.” He adds that the IPCC has easily taken on the role of an advocate, and not that of an unbiased expert.
      Carter feels that the IPCC should start to publish a correction column in its reports, and be more open, as is the practice in many scientific publications.
      Korhola feels that the IPCC should be split up; the reports should be smaller. “Now when a mistake is found somewhere, the whole package gets a label.”


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Climate measures: Finland´s ranking improves slightly (15.12.2009)
  Finnish greenhouse emissions within Kyoto protocol framework (5.10.2009)
  Finnish cities stick to climate policy goals despite recession (2.3.2009)

Links:
  Finnish Environment Institute press release 11.2.2010: New scenarios for climate change research needed
  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)