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Climate Change Minister David Parker has congratulated New Zealand scientists working on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which won the Nobel Peace Prize with American climate change campaigner Al Gore.
"It's fitting that this international group of scientists and academics has been recognised with this prestigious award, and I'm proud of New Zealand's contribution to the panel."
He noted that Dr David Wratt of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, was a member of the IPCC bureau managing the process of producing the organisation's high profile six-yearly reports.
Another 100 New Zealand scientists were also involved in the report production, as well as other aspects of IPCC research, Mr Parker said.
He added the work of the IPCC had been influential in shaping the government's move to give climate change sustainability priority.
In the United States New Zealand-born Kevin Trenberth was a lead author on the 1995, 2001 and 2007 IPCC reports.
Trenberth, the New Zealand-born head of the climate analysis section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, was reported by AP today as saying he hoped the prize increased the impact of the explanations he and other scientists give to audiences ranging from town hall meetings to the US Congress.
- NZPA
