Toenemende druk op Pachauri om te vertrekken als voorzitter van VN-Klimaatpanel
The time passed some while ago in which Pauchari ceased to be an asset to the IPCC and became a liability.
It's important not to give a trophy to sceptics.
Dr Pachauri's future could be decided at the next IPCC meeting in South Korea Several environmentalists, UK MPs and scientists has called for the resignation of Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the UN's climate science body.
Dr Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has in the past been criticised by climate "sceptics". They have claimed that some of his comments had become politicised. Pressure increased recently when a report recommended that IPCC chairs serve only a single term of office. Dr Pachauri has yet to comment on the matter. [Noot HL: Niet waar. Heeft hij al gedaan. Hij wil aanblijven.]
The IPCC chair is into his second term and several leading scientists and green thinkers contacted by BBC News say he should quit now. The list includes Tim Yeo, chairman of the all-party Commons Climate and Energy Committee and Mike Hulme a former IPCC lead author. Mr Yeo told BBC News: "Dr Pachauri has become a liability - he is now causing more harm than good. Climate science needs a guarantee of utmost reliability, and Dr Pachauri can no longer guarantee that. It would be as well if he stepped aside."
Professor Hulme said: "Whatever merit his leadership of IPCC has had in the past, Dr Pachauri is unfortunately now associated with controversy and error in the IPCC AR4."
The BBC understands that if Dr Pachauri is determined to hang on to the job, his post is safe for a while at least. A UN source said developed countries were keen to strike a deal on biodiversity, so would not be prepared to upset developing countries by calling for resignation of a high-profile Indian.
The question now is whether Dr Pachauri feels he is still serving the best interests of the IPCC, following such a negative reaction from British greens whom he may have considered to be his friends.
