An economist who insists he’s never described himself as a Nobel laureate did, indeed, do so. In written testimony.
Activist economist Mark Jaccard is currently in Europe portraying Canada’s oil sands as a climate criminal.
For years, this Simon Fraser University professor has erroneously been described by journalists, event organizers, and speakers’ bureaus as a Nobel laureate.
In actual fact, he is merely one of thousands of people who contributed to a bureaucratic, report-writing exercise by a 25-year-old UN body called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
In 2007, that body shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. This is a symbolic award. It is not a Nobel in science. It is not a Nobel in Jaccard’s own field – economics.
The IPCC has declared unequivocally that the Peace Prize was awarded to it as an organization. An IPCC statement says “it is incorrect to refer to any IPCC official, or scientist who worked on IPCC reports, as a Nobel laureate or Nobel Prize winner.”
Four days ago Jaccard wrote on his blog:
I have never spoken or written of myself as a Nobel laureate.
In November 2011, however, he submitted written testimony to a British Columbia Utilities Commission inquiry. Near the beginning of his 47-page document, he discussed his credentials. This is standard practice. It is intended to communicate one’s professional stature and accomplishments.
Jaccard listed many achievements of which he has a right to be proud. He also said this:
I have been honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize (2007) as an author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [see page 4, numbered as page 2]
I did not have sex with that woman. I never said I was a Nobel laureate.
Jaccard’s written testimony is backed up here
his blog post, containing his denial, is backed up here
not only is Jaccard against oil development, he opposes coal, too
UPDATE: May 15, 2013 11:27 am:
Jaccard’s most recent Tweet links to this poster.
The EU “expert meeting” at which Jaccard spoke is billed as “an evening debate on EU regulation of tar sands as high carbon fuels.” But the three featured speakers sing from the same hymnbook (poster backed up here).
see also:
Speakers Bureau Still Says Jaccard is a Nobel Laureate
Mark Jaccard, Counterfeit Nobel Laureate
The Activist Economist & the IPCC (Part 1)
The Activist Economist & the IPCC (Part 2)
A Few Crumbs of Pastry: More Nobel Nonsense
Slivers of the Nobel Pie
All for a Nobel Cause
The Uses and Abuses of a Nobel Prize
