Yuri A. Izrael (born 1930 in Russia) is a vice-chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).[1] He is the "most influential scientific adviser" for Vladamir Putin, the president of Russia, according to CNN.[2] Izrael is a former chairman of the Committee for Hydrometeorology. He also served as director of the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology, which is apart of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was a former first vice-president of the World Meteorological Organization and helped develop World Weather Watch.[3] In 1992, Izrael won the UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize for, among other accomplishments, contributing to the "success of Working Group I I" of the IPCC.[3]
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Views on the Kyoto Protocol
Izrael believes the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, is not scientifically supported and damaging for the Russian economy,[4] stating, "the Kyoto Protocol is overly expensive, ineffective and based on bad science."[2][5]
Views on global warming
In dissenting with the scientific opinion on climate change, Izrael has stated, "climate change is obvious, but science has not yet been able to identify the causes of it,"[6] and, "there is no proven link between human activity and global warming."[7] This seems to contrast the IPCC conclusion that "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely [confidence level >90%] due to the observed increase in anthropogenic [human] greenhouse gas concentrations."[8] Izrael agrees with the IPCC predictions for future climate change, stating, "Global temperatures will likely rise by 1.4-5.8 degrees during the next 100 years. The average increase will be three degrees. I do not think that this threatens mankind. Sea levels, due to rise by 47 cm in the 21st century, will not threaten port cities." He also states, "I think the panic over global warming is totally unjustified. There is no serious threat to the climate," and, "There is no need to dramatize the anthropogenic impact, because the climate has always been subject to change under Nature's influence, even when humanity did not even exist."[7] Additionally, he does not believe the 0.6 °C (1.08 °F) rise in temperature observed in the last 100 years is a threat, stating, "there is no scientifically sound evidence of the negative processes that allegedly begin to take place at such temperatures."[7] Instead of decreasing carbon dioxide, he argues, aerosol injections in to the stratosphere would be a more effective way to mitigate global warming.[9] He appears to favor adaption over mitigation, arguing, "The people of Bangladesh, who live at sea level, may face problems if the Indian Ocean rises. Still, their resettlement would be much cheaper than projected Kyoto Protocol expenses."[7]
See also
- Global warming controversy
- Scientists opposing the mainstream scientific assessment of global warming
References
- ^ IPCC Bureau. About IPCC. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ a b Novak, Robert (2003-10-16). The Russian didn't bark. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ a b The Achievements of the Laureates. UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize (1992). United Nations Environment Programme (2004). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Academician Izrael: Kyoto Protocol economically hazardous to Russia", RIA Novosti, 2004-07-17. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Global Warming Shakeup in Moscow. Scientific Conference Signals Sea Change in Climate Debate (cfm). Competitive Enterprise Institute (2003-10-09). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Sinitsina, Tatyana (2005-07-05). The G8 weather report. RIA Novosti. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ a b c d Izrael, Yuri A. (2005-06-23). Climate change: not a global threat. RIA Novosti. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Summary for Policymakers (PDF). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007-02-05). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
- ^ Izrael, Yuri (2007-04-18). Climate: putting panic in perspective. RIA Novosti. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Izrael, Yuri A. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | vice-chair of the IPCC |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1930 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Russia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
