Pachauri Says Economic WoesShould Not Divert Attention from Warming

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said evidence of global warming’s impacts is steadily mounting and warned the global community not to let the current economic crisis distract it from tackling the problem. In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Pachauri said, “I’m absolutely sure that climate change will be the last thing people will think about at this point in time.” But he urged the world community to use the economic downturn as an opportunity to rapidly develop alternative sources of energy. He expressed confidence that the next U.S. president will do more to fight climate change than the Bush administration and dismissed Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who has downplayed man’s role in climate change. “I wouldn’t really worry too much about her,” Pachauri said.