Korean energy economist to head United Nations climate science panel

South Korea’s Hoesung Lee was today elected as the new chairperson of the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change, a position vacated by R K Pachauri who served two terms before having to resign earlier this year following allegations of sexual harassment against him. The IPCC, set up in 1988, is the world body for assessing the science related to climate change. While the conference will have a separate leadership, the IPCC guides the debate and lays out the pathways to controlling global warming. “Above all, we need to provide more information about the options that exist for preventing and adapting to climate change”.

Lee Hoe-sung, a Korea University professor known for his expertise in energy-environment policy, was selected to succeed Rajendra Pachauri as chairman of the United Nations panel in a vote at a meeting in Croatia, the IPCC said in a press release on its website.

Lee, 69, beat five rivals for the job as head of the world’s top authority on climate change, including Belgium’s Jean-Pascal van Ypersele by 78-56 votes in a run-off. Six candidates, including an American, contested the election for the post.

The IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with climate campaigner and former US vice president Al Gore. The AR5 was produced between 2013 and 2014, and is the most comprehensive assessment of climate change science so far. Equally, a few environmental groups said he was not doing enough or wasn’t adequately aggressive.

Mr. Ban also reaffirmed his support for the crucial role played by the IPCC in supplying decision-makers and the public with the world’s most authoritative scientific understanding of climate change, including its impacts as well as solutions.

After his resignation, a vice chair, Ismail El Gizouli was made the interim chair.