POSTSCRIPT: DR. BERT BOLIN RESPONDS TO THE SEPP 6/23/97 PRESS RELEASE "IPCC CHAIRMAN SAYS CURRENT WEATHER EXTREMES NOT LINKED TO GLOBAL WARMING":

On June 26, 1997, through the UN Environmental Program in Geneva, IPCC Chairman Bert Bolin responded to the SEPP 6/23/97 press release with a carefully worded clarification of his views on the global warming debate. In his statement, Dr. Bolin denied saying he didn't trust the Greens, said he never commented on U.S. Undersecretary of State Tim Wirth's position on the science, and said Vice President Al Gore only meant that current weather extremes were "consistent" with what might happen with a global warming, not that global warming was actually here.

In SEPP's view, it is a disappointing characteristic of the climate change debate that IPCC scientists like Bolin, who make perfectly reasonable statements in discussions with other scientists, nevertheless--when talking to politicians--feel it necessary to subject those same statements to "clarification."

Dr. Bolin's protestations to the contrary, he made his comments at an "on the record" public forum, before an audience that included journalists. Having now reviewed our notes and the tapes of the debate between Singer and Bolin, as well as Bolin's own xeroxed statements distributed at the debate, we can confidently state that we did not misrepresent Bolin's comments in any way.

EXCERPT FROM JUNE 2: (The after-dinner Q & A, Grand Hotel, Stockholm.)

Bert Bolin: "There has been no effect on countries from any current [temperature] change. The increases in temperature are so small as to be barely detectable. That is why I do not trust the Greens and their claims of storms, droughts, hurricanes." (which both Vice President Gore and President Clinton have repeated publicly)

Question from the audience: Is nuclear energy a possible option, given that it doesn't emit CO2?

Bert Bolin: "Nuclear energy obviously is a possible energy source, for the reasons cited, although there are some political considerations. The IPCC has dealt with this issue, though briefly. We do not deny the obvious facts about energy."

EXCERPT FROM JUNE 3: (Bolin's comments in the SEPP press release were from Candace Crandall's notes. In reviewing the tape, she finds her notes actually softened them a bit.)

Context: Dr. Singer projects on a screen a quote--Undersecretary of State Timothy Wirth saying that global warming science is "settled."

Question from the audience: Do you agree with Fred that there is political misuse of IPCC?

Bert Bolin: "You ask me? Of course, there is. Yes. Absolutely. But in all kinds of directions. And I just refuse to accept that politicians are not interested in progress. And I think Tim Wirth, if quoted correctly, that he doesn't mean what you implied he meant. (Audience laughter) I've spoken to him, I know he doesn't mean it."

EXCERPT FROM DR. BOLIN'S XEROXED STATEMENT, "COMMENTS REGARDING CRITICISM AND MISCONCEPTION OF THE IPCC ASSESSMENTS," WHICH HE PUT ON A TABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION:

The climate issue is not "settled"; it is both uncertain and incomplete. "This is obviously a true statement. The scientific challenge is then to try to extract and interpret whatever information is available and to indicate clearly the reliability or uncertainty of the results deduced. This is indeed the central task that has been given to the IPCC. It is a continuing process that will last for decades."

Go to the SEPP 6/23/97 Press Release