Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Contrary to the assertion made in the Oct. 19 news story "Bush Aide Rejects Climate Goal," the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) do not recommend a temperature goal, nor do they establish a scientific basis for one.

The IPCC Working Group II report reflects the current science regarding climate-related impacts and examines a broad spectrum of possible effects across a range of possible temperature increases. It does not focus on any particular temperature. What effects and what temperature or carbon-dioxide concentrations constitute "dangerous climate change" involve value judgments that go far beyond what science alone can determine.

JOHN MARBURGER

Director, White House Office

of Science and Technology Policy

Washington