Robert Watson was chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change until 2002.

The New York Times characterized Watson as an

"outspoken advocate of the idea that human actions - mainly burning coal and oil - are contributing to global warming and must be changed to avert environmental upheavals."

At a 1997 press briefing, Watson was asked about climate scientists who challenge the IPCC conclusions that man-induced global warming is real. Watson is reported to have said:

"The science is settled [and] we're not going to reopen it here." [1] (http://www.sovereignty.net/p/clim/kyotorpt.htm)

However this quote should be treated with some caution as it has not be adequately sourced.

Opponents of Watson say his "advocacy" of the environmentalist agenda clouds his scientific objectivity.

See also

• global warming
• Kyoto Protocol
• Anthopogenic global warming
• Global warming controversy