Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - Essay Example

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Introduction The IPPC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is the chief organization recognized and formed by the United Nations as a scientific body that is responsible to present the effects of climate change. And hence, this essay will deal with controversies that will mostly relate to the figures and calculations by the IPPC; it is to be noted that the IPPC does not conduct its own research or even evaluate the risks associated with climate change itself; instead it mostly relies upon external research and calculations; which is one of the reasons as to why the organization is in constant scrutiny by many experts that deny global warming or the fact that it has increased (significantly) due to human intervention and industrial revolution. Certain factors of the theory of Global Warming attract controversies, such as: 1. Whether these climatic changes are generic or exceptional. 2. Whether the involvement of humans and increase in carbon emissions by humans is a reason. 3. Or whether these climate change numbers are just a result of poor data collection methodologies or poor measurements. As for this essay; the hypothesis of denial chosen is ‘whether changes are generic or unprecedented and what is the role of humans in these changes if these are unprecedented’ Questioning the occurrence of Global Warming Professor Timothy Francis Ball is one of the most prominent names amongst the people that are against the theory of occurrence of global warming. Initially Dr. Timothy used to completely disagree with the concept of current occurrence of global warming, but as the results got more accurate and more funds were allotted to research on the intensity of warming, the professor stated that he never questioned the occurrence of global warming, but only the reasons of such climatic changes, which he firmly believes are not human induced (Ottawa Citizen). Later on the professor changed his stance once more and argued that the climate is cooling down since the 40s’ as satellite imaging shows cooling in certain areas. (Ball) Dr. Timothy’s philosophies were hyped after he received several death threats on his e-mail account after he appeared in a documentary film which tried to convey that global warming is a hoax (Ingraham 280); but the e-mail threat is quite dubious as the professor never reported it to authorities and only claimed that he had received such threats; which gives rise to a speculation that this was possibly a strategy to increase the sales of the movie. Dr. Robert Carter, another prominent geologist, states that figures of IPCC show no increase in “human induced” warming since the late 90s’ and rejects the warnings issued by the IPCC in the matter. The claim by the doctor is highly dubious as the results do indeed show a steady increase with rise in carbon emissions, and hence the correlation amongst carbon emissions and warming could not be rejected. (Carter) Very similar to Carter’s claims, a prominent coal chemist Vincent Gray also directly rejects that correlation graph amongst carbon dioxide emissions and warming, stating that this might just be a coincidence. (Gray) Antonio Zichichi also claims that the data extraction and calculation methodologies used by the IPCC exclude external factors and are only focused on comparing carbon emissions with warming, Dr. Antonio’s point is not entirely wrong, as science must be evidence based and the IPCC has provided evidence of correlation, but it is yet to examine other possible causes and their mean effect on the atmosphere before reaching to a valid conclusion. (Zichichi) Agreeing with Dr. Antonio, are Ian Clark, Don Easterbrook, and William Happer, and many others; all of who state that global warming is highly dependent upon other natural causes or circumstances; Dr. Ian Clark states that carbon dioxide is a minor greenhouse gas and therefore could not damage the ecosystem to such an extent as it is hyped by the IPCC and other similar councils. William Happer on the other hand states that the warming is very natural and ‘normal’, as increases in the climatic temperature have been witnessed in the past (Brusca); but this theory is extremely flawed as the current increase is far more amplified; as witnessed in the chart below: Figure 2: Image courtesy: (Time for Change) Conclusion Many scientists, experts, and corporations alike, have been against the theory of global warming, some even bluntly reject the claims that warming has occurred despite the tons of evidence presented for the fact. Chiefly, oil companies are against the IPCC campaign and claims have been made that Exxon Mobil and other oil companies have funded many researches that could help indicate that the warming is not human induced. (msnbc.com staff ) But these results may be biased as human induced warming is to oil companies, just like cancer is to cigarette companies. Along with corporations, an individual entity is also by and large famous for promoting the skepticism of warming and that name is ‘Philip Morris’. As of today, all the scientific communities that have prepared any reports in the context of warming agree to the fact that warming has occurred, and more than 90% of these organizations claim that the warming is largely human induced. Works Cited Ball, Timothy. Dr. Tim Ball, Historical Climatologist. 15 November 2004. 21 February 2010 . Brusca, Raymond. Professor denies global warming theory. 19 January 2009. 21 February 2010 . Carter, Bob. High price for load of hot air. 17 June 2007. 21 February 2010 . Coelho, Breno. Understanding COP15. 12 November 2009. 21 February 2010 . Gray, Vincent. SUPPORT FOR CALL FOR REVIEW OF UN IPCC. 2007. 21 February 2010 . Ingraham, Laura. Power to the people. Washington: Regnery Publishing, 2007. msnbc.com staff . Exxon cuts ties to global warming skeptics: Oil giant also in talks to look at curbing greenhouse gases. 12 January 2007. 21 February 2010 . Ottawa Citizen. Climate of controversy: Retired climatology professor Tim Ball is fighting a difficult battle against the broadly accepted idea that human industry and conveniences are changing Earth's climate, and not for the better. 18 May 2006. 21 February 2010 . Time for Change. Definition for global warming - what is global warming? N.D. 21 February 2010 . Zichichi, Antonino. "METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE: PROBLEMS AND EXPECTATIONS." Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2007): 4-19. Read More