Wednesday
Feb182015
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill Breaking...
Feb 18, 2015 Climate: IPCC I am hearing on the grapevine that a senior IPCC official has been accused of sexual harassment and that a police investigation has been commenced. The official denies everything and has also issued a complaint to police, alleging a hacking attack.
Reader Comments (71)
Their lovely chairman I hope.
John Marshall, that was my first thought, as the IPCC is very good at mistaking their fantasy for reality , so he may well think one of his 'hot novels' are the same as real life.
He was just doing a touch of hands-on research for his next novel ...
Pointman
Quick, focus media attention on how information was obtained, and hope people will lose interest.
It does indeed involve the chairman. The Economic Times of India carried this story earlier, alleging sexual harassment of a female Teri employee by Pachauri. He has responded with a claim that his e-mails and phone have been hacked and requested the story not be reported pending further investigation. The story has since been pulled from the E. Times website, but the original story is here at Pressreader:
http://www.pressreader.com/india/economic-times/textview
Is it a sex crime if you try to screw everybody?
Excerpts from the Climate Science Handbook of Damage Limitation:
Q. I have been exposed for misrepresenting my results
A. Claim you were hacked by agents of fossil-fuel funded denialists
Q. I have been exposed for hiding my data
A. Claim you were hacked by agents of fossil-fuel funded denialists
Q. I have been exposed for illegally obstructing FOIA requests
A. Claim you were hacked by agents of fossil-fuel funded denialists
Q. All our emails have been made public by a whistle-blower
A. Claim you were hacked by agents of fossil-fuel funded denialists
Q. I have been accused of sexual assault
A. Claim you were hacked by agents of fossil-fuel funded denialists
Well, he did write a book about it...
Nothing would surprise me as the IPCC officials seem to have no integrity whatsoever.
When a group of people believe the end justifies the means, then any behaviour is possible, "I am saving the planet, I can do no wrong!"
Bet he will blame global warming.......
Scandal and rumour. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
This has nothing to do with climate science or politics.
It is tabloid tittle tattle.
If they are found guilty then the story changes but this sort of thing made me feel sorry for Cliff Richard even.
So he can 'request' that the allegations are not reported - what a strange system.
Slywolfe, the crime is being caught......
We must now await expressions of shock, horror and disbelief. The cautious alarmists, may hold back from the words "confidence" and "faith", for fear of confusing beliefs with science. Its an easy, and lucrative mistake.
His defence is laughable.
'All my computing devices have been hacked'
If he thinks anyone is going to believe that nonsense when there is a also a handwritten note......
Having said that, Indian justice is probably a lot cheaper to buy than it is in the UK.
M Courtney: In principle I agree with you. But looking at the press story that dennisa linked to above it would appear that:
1. A formal complaint of harassment has been made to police by the young lady
2. Pachauri has responded that:
(a) his emails/messages etc have been hacked
(b) the email/messages that are apparently incriminating were <I>planted</I> by the hackers.
That is a very strange state of affairs to me. This seems to lead to two possibilities:
Option A: The lady has falsely accused Pachauri of sexual harassment and, simultaneously, hackers have created a detailed web of incriminating evidence This would require conspiracy on a large scale.
Option B: The lady's allegation is true and is also supported by incriminating emails/messages.
Which version seems more believable to you? Perhaps you can propose an alternative explanation?
Things are hotting up at the IPCC
Swiss Bob. Climate science has a record of restricting access to sensitive areas. The IPCC considers its own integrity to provide immunity.
I note he says, "The entire computer outputs.......are completely false, fabricated, forged and manipulated." Haven't people been saying that for some time?
C'mon, folks, this site is supposed to be about climate science, not salacious gossip. Whatever he did in his private life, it has nothing to do with his gross misbehavior as a public official.
Well, you could argue that all the IPCC's Assessments could be characterised as Fifty Shades of Grey...
The Economic Times tweets that:
The link to the RK Pachauri story has been removed following an injunction from the honourable Delhi high court.
Voodoo allegations, could be a defence.
M Courtney 12.07pm I agree. Come on chaps raise the tone. One of the usual distinguishing features of warmist versus sceptic has been the relative absence of unsubstantiated gossip in our columns. Lets keep it that way.
Thinking scientist at 12.25 Do we really want to fill these hallowed columns with deep analysis of such matters? Wait for the outcome if any, then lets make a passing comment.
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4uivPpzCGo
So they found the missing heat.
thinkingscientist,, Yes, I have an opinion.
No, I won't make it public.
I am not in possession of all of the facts. This has nothing to do with me - beyond my duty to help defend the innocent and the injured. This is not relevant to the issue of climate change anyway (personal failings do not affect the weather).
This issue may not be beneath my dignity but I would like to hope it might be.
Yes, innocent until proven guilty.
Shame that it doesn't apply to CO2.
Nothing to do with climate, and little to do with the honesty of the IPCC. Schadenfreude aside, nothing interesting here for us IMHO.
We are all shills funded by Big Oil. This must be true, because it has been said so many times by IPCC experts, and none of us has sued for libel or slander.
The UK has a noble tradition of innocence, until proven guilty. Tell that to CO2 molecules facing capture and storage.
I do not know about overseas legal systems, but defending yourself against allegations made by someone who may be treated, legally, as a second class citizen, must be easier.
I am sure his reputation will emerge, like Bill Clintons trousers, unstained.
I'm thinking that they need to get the crack hacking investigative unit of the Norfolk Constabulary working on who dunnit right away...
Global warming makes people friskier. We can either cut CO2 levels or put bromides in the water supply.
M Courtney:
Scandal and rumour. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Permit me to add my voice to others endorsing your point. "Sceptic" sites are as prone to the phenomenon as any other but mob behaviour doesn't make for worthwhile debate.
(Despite being a life-long socialist, I made myself unpopular among my few remaining friends by insisting that the so-called "evidence" that Leon Brittan had, as Home Secretary, covered up an alleged House of Commons sex abuse ring was quite obviously worthless. As indeed it is to anyone with half a brain.)
DaveB
I agree with your commentabout Leon Brittan, just don't ask me to accept the official story
oabout 9/11.
I think it's reasonable to mention a topic which might, rightly or wrongly, have an effect on the climate industry.
I think we are entirely justified by now in having scepticism about the integrity and honesty of IPCC officials as a default setting.
Having said that, I don't think there is any value - and much credibility to be lost - in further speculation about guilt or otherwise until there is more solid information.
"Wow. Pachauri gets midnight injunction. Police doesn't file FIR for a week after girl's complaint. Great justice."
- A First Information Report (FIR) is a written document prepared by police organizations in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence.
It is only after the FIR is registered in the police station that the police take up investigation of the case
There appears to be a 97% consensus that Pachauri is telling lies.
Indians on twitter have some other perspectives on this story. It looks like there are some aspects linked to national politics. Something which may well be of material interest here given the fact that the Indian government now appears to be taking a turn against green groups:
https://twitter.com/rupasubramanya/status/567985837457031168/photo/1
Ha a host new voices pop up to say we shouldn't discuss the case
1. Strange these same voices didn't pop up to say we shouldn't speculate last week to protect Australian PM. No there was stirring like crazy.
2. The argument in the UK historic abuses was that a high media profile helps victims cases as it means further evidence/victims come forward.
- Of course in any case there are 2 families affected the accused and the accuser ; there should be respect for both. But media observation helps ensure the judicial process is not usurped. This is important when one party is rich and powerful and as in this case hsa a reputation for deception like about Himalayan glaciers etc.
- Indian gov only just changed a few months ago , after years of pro IPCC one, when investigation perhaps were likely to be supressed.
Pachauri does what he was hired to do: Embarrass the IPCC.
There's every chance he's gone off the rails.
It is absolutely relevant to the climate debate that the chairman of the IPCC behaves as he does and the organisation does nothing about it. Not surprising that a bunch of shills pop out of the woodwork to try and shut down the discussion, that is standard practice in India. This link shows how powerful members of Indian society control things.
The "blog post" linked several times in the discussion I linked to is a better introduction to the broader issue.
NW:
Not surprising that a bunch of shills pop out of the woodwork to try and shut down the discussion
Not sure I get your point; can you explain?
pachy making a last move
Getting an injunction is a great way to keep a story quiet, especially in these days of twitter and internet-news.
Its now at WUWT, Guido, Delingpole at Breitbart and various Indian news sources ("screenshots galore on Twitter").
Vaguely interesting.
But I'm afraid that I discount any accusation of 'sexual harassment' on principle. It's one of these modern 'crimes' where you may have done nothing, but if someone takes offense you're guilty.
If Pachauri has really done anything, I'd expect to see him tried for assault.
Stewgreen
Ha a host new voices pop up to say we shouldn't discuss the case
-------------------------------------------------------
If you are including me, I have commented here and on other climate blogs many times, I just don't have an account here which would show up previous comments.
My reasoning behind suggesting we should be cautious without new information includes:
There have been more than enough dubious witchhunts over sexual allegations recently. Accusation should not equal guilt.
We don't have much information either way.
Let's not forget that this could be either an unjustified allegation or a very unpleasant experience for a woman.
In any case if we gleefully pile in it makes scepticism look as bad as the worst warmists.
Well, in the modern age of cyber-indignation, it's a big deal for him. It could bring him down.
But I doubt that he's the only sleazebag in the IPCC - if he is one.
Like some other commenters, I find the tendency to target people's personal behaviour in a quasi-criminal way distasteful. If he assaulted someone, charge him. If he sleazed around his subordinates, publicise it, laugh at him, satirise his sad behaviour. But keep it out of courts and People's Political Correctness Tribunals.
Mine is not a new account here. Although I have become more active as WUWT goes a little crazy.
And I have not been paid to defend anyone from the IPCC. Indeed, at the Guardian I am accused of the exact opposite.