Dr Rashmi Misra is a scientist and senior manager at a multinational blue-chip company where she received its 2009 Strategic Business Impact Award for promoting new business lines. She holds six international patents in telecoms and is the Director of the Cheltenham Conservative Business Forum and on the approved list of Conservative parliamentary candidates.
The past few weeks have undoubtedly been terrible for those working for positive change in man’s actions towards our planet and pretty awful on scientists and our opinion of them too. However, it is worth putting the "Climate-gate" incident into context.
Whatever the motives and real actions of these researchers (and we will only learn of the truth after the current enquiries), we must remember that this is one research programme out of thousands across the globe. The evidence for climatic change, global warming and the significance of man’s direct connection to it has been prolific and well-analysed by countless studies from all parts of the world ranging from atmospheric data, rising sea-levels to analysis of varied human illnesses and rogue weather formations. A lot of the data has covered specific parts of the holistic system looking at several variables and relying on experienced scientific and mathematical extrapolation to the entire system dynamic. Other studies have depended on collaboration from similar studies being performed at distinct locations in the world.
In all worthy cases, the research is scrutinised and reviewed by reputable peer groups before publication. Climate change science is very robust whichever way you look at it. This research has been available for journalists, pressure groups, charities and governments, amongst others, to grasp, understand and translate in order to promote awareness of the difficult issues, provide forums for debate and to action positive change.
Note, importantly, that the policies should not come from the scientists, journalists and bloggers but in fact should come from government once it has substantiated the research, consulted with public opinion and translated it to a vision of the community, society and its future.