"Global warming skeptics have less evidence ... - The País.com (Spain)

Matilde

Rusticucci (Buenos Aires, 1957) is a meteorologist, an expert on extreme events, and member of the Expert Group on Climate Change (IPCC). Coordinates one of the groups discussed in Stockholm (Sweden) the contents of the new report on climate change, which updates six years of scientific knowledge on the subject. After four days of work, yesterday approved a summary for policymakers. The total will go launching in stages until 2014.

Asked . Have there been many changes on drafts who knew?

Reply . The official document is now and always is the official version that is valid. It has become very intense work. We started on Monday at 10.00 and was approved at five in the morning of Friday, with sessions virtually all day. Was open to the scientific community and governments and approved everything by consensus.

P. What are the key elements of this work?

R. that the human influence on climate is clear. That there is much more certainty than before and that there have been changes in temperatures. The last three decades have been warmer. And not only the temperature has risen. The sea level rise has had an unprecedented rate, there is also the melting ice. There is much more evidence, many data allow us to state that warming is unequivocal. Many independent data that say the same. We are much more confident than ever.

P. Is the weather phenomenon named much of the Child?

R. El Niño is a natural variability of the system, much cited because the last strong El Niño was in 1998, which was the warmest years, and the increase of temperature affects the climates of much of the world. The presence or absence of the Child can determine seasons drier or wetter.

P. Do you think that such strong statements will be no skeptics?

R. will always be skeptics, because they have more press. The scientific evidence is really strong and there is growing evidence. Skeptics have no evidence, but have more news.

P. Do not you think that climate change crisis has disappeared from the agendas of leaders?

R. I know very well how much discussed in Europe, but in Argentina is not as present in the agendas. However, the presence of our experts is quite relevant in the IPCC. I’m the only coordinator of a developing country. In my country is especially noticeable in extreme events. In April floods in Buenos Aires and La Plata, 50 kilometers from the capital, with many victims. That’s when it comes to climate change, and when it asks what we do with it.

P. What do you claimed political representatives attending meetings?

R. Mainly, it was a summary to be understood. Others who claimed certain things with more certainty. In the last hours added a map of the changes in precipitation they wanted to see reflected in the summary.