Editing Robert Watson (chemist)

{{Short description|British chemist and atmospheric scientist (born 1948)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name              = Robert Watson
|image             = File:Bob Watson.jpg
|image_size        =
|caption           = 
|birth_date        = {{b-da|21 March 1948}}
|birth_place       = 
|death_date        = 
|death_place       = 
|residence         = 
|citizenship       = 
|nationality       = British
|ethnicity         = 
|field             = Atmospheric scientist
|work_institutions = [[University of East Anglia]]
|alma_mater        = [[Queen Mary University of London]]
|doctoral_advisor  = 
| thesis_title = The study of some reactions involving halogen atoms and oxyhalide free radicals by molecular beam mass spectrometry
| thesis_url = http://whatsinthe.library.qmul.ac.uk/record/986218496
| thesis_year = 1973
|doctoral_students = 
|known_for         = 
|author_abbrev_bot = 
|author_abbrev_zoo = 
|influences        = 
|influenced        = 
|prizes            = [[Blue Planet Prize]] (2010)<br>[[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]] (2011)
|religion          = 
|footnotes         = 
|signature         =
}}
'''Sir Robert Tony Watson''' [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]] [[Royal Society|FRS]] (born 21 March 1948) is a British chemist who has worked on atmospheric science issues including [[ozone depletion]], [[global warming]] and [[paleoclimatology]] since the 1980s.   Most recently, he is lead author of the February 2021 [[United Nations|U.N.]] report ''Making Peace with Nature''.<ref name="baste-and-watson-2021">
{{cite book
 | editor-last1 = Baste | editor-first1 = Ivar A
 | editor-last2 = Watson | editor-first2 = Robert T
 | title = Making peace with nature: a scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies
 | date = 18 February 2021
 | publisher = United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 | location = Nairobi, Kenya
 | isbn = 978-92-807-3837-7
 | url = https://wedocs.unep.org/xmlui/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34948/MPN.pdf
 | access-date = 2021-03-11
}}  Job no DEW/2335/NA.  See document for conditions of reuse.
</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=UN: Huge changes in society needed to keep nature, Earth OK |url=https://apnews.com/article/un-climate-change-environment-crisis-df5f89784ec92aaf8a855f88bdd753c9 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>  

== Education and awards ==

Watson received a PhD in gas phase chemical kinetics ([[atmospheric chemistry]]) from [[Queen Mary, University of London|Queen Mary College]], [[University of London]] in 1973.<ref>[http://aaaspolicyfellowships.org/archive-lectures#2002_PE archive lectures] of [[American Association for the Advancement of Science|AAAS]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/notablealumni/honoraryfellows/#w |title=Queen Mary University of London Honorary Fellows |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Queen Mary University of London |access-date=7 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927032529/http://www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/notablealumni/honoraryfellows/#w |archive-date=27 September 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He has received awards for his contributions to science, including the [[NAS Award for Scientific Reviewing]] from the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]] in 1992,<ref name=Reviewing>{{cite web|title=NAS Award for Scientific Reviewing|url=http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_scirev|publisher=National Academy of Sciences|access-date=27 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318130922/http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_scirev|archive-date=18 March 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] [[Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility]] in 1993, the insignia of [[Order of St Michael and St George|Honorary Companion of St Michael and St George]] from the [[Her Majesty's Government|British Government]] in 2003, and the [[Champions of the Earth]] Award from the [[United Nations Environment Programme]] in 2014.<ref name="EarthChampion">{{cite web |url=https://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2014/November/bob-watson-award |title= Prof Bob Watson to receive United Nations award for services to science |publisher=[[University of East Anglia]] |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=10 November 2014 }}</ref> In 2020 he was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amphilsoc.org/blog/american-philosophical-society-welcomes-new-members-2020|title=The American Philosophical Society Welcomes New Members for 2020}}</ref>

== Career ==
Watson was the Director of the Science Division and Chief Scientist for the Office of [[NASA Earth Science Enterprise|Mission to Planet Earth]] at the [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA). Watson then became Associate Director for Environment in the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Office of the President of the United States]] in the White House.

In 1996, Watson joined the [[World Bank Group|World Bank]] as the Senior Scientific adviser in the Environment Department, became Director of the Environment Department and Head of the Environment Sector Board in 1997 and is currently the Chief Scientist and Senior Adviser for Sustainable Development. He took up a position as Chair of Environmental Science and Science Director of the Tyndall Centre at the [[University of East Anglia]], United Kingdom, in August 2007<ref name="Tyndall" /> and joined the British Government's [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] (Defra) as Chief Scientific Adviser in September 2007.<ref name="DEFRA" />

Watson had a role in the regulation efforts related to both [[ozone depletion and global warming]]. The Montreal and Vienna conventions were installed long before a scientific consensus was established.<ref name = RG>[http://www.mpifg.de/pu/mpifg_book/mpifg_bd_39.pdf ''Technische Problemlösung, Verhandeln und umfassende Problemlösun''g, (eng. technical troubleshooting, negotiating and generic problem-solving capability)] in Gesellschaftliche Komplexität und kollektive Handlungsfähigkeit (Societys complexity and collective ability to act), ed. Schimank, U. (2000). Frankfurt/Main: Campus, p.154-182 [http://pubman.mpdl.mpg.de/pubman/faces/viewItemFullPage.jsp;jsessionid=1F12495443EF6AC95BFF12F29F3C4829?itemId=escidoc%3A1235032%3A2&view=EXPORT book summary at the Max Planck Gesellschaft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012202222/http://pubman.mpdl.mpg.de/pubman/faces/viewItemFullPage.jsp;jsessionid=1F12495443EF6AC95BFF12F29F3C4829?itemId=escidoc%3A1235032%3A2&view=EXPORT |date=12 October 2014 }}</ref> Until the 1980s EU, NASA, NAS, UNEP, WMO and the British government had dissenting scientific reports.<ref name = RG/> Watson played a role in the process of unified assessments<ref name = RG/> and did so as well for the IPCC.

He was Chairman of the [[Global Environment Facility]]'s Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel from 1991 to 1994, Chair of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC) from 1997 to 2002 and Board co-chair for the [[Millennium Ecosystem Assessment]] from 2000 to 2005. He was then Director of the [[International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development]] which ran from 2005 to 2007, and had previously been co-chair of the [[Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion|International Scientific Assessment of Stratospheric Ozone]] for their reports from 1994<ref>{{cite web | title=Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1994| publisher=NOAA | access-date=28 November 2016 | url=http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd/assessments/ozone/1994/authors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906232954/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd/assessments/ozone/1994/authors.html |archive-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> to 2006.<ref>{{cite web | title=Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2006| publisher=NOAA | access-date=28 November 2016 | url=http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd/assessments/ozone/2006/authors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401171730/http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd/assessments/ozone/2006/authors.html |archive-date=1 April 2016}}</ref> He has been Chair or co-chair of other international scientific assessments, including the IPCC Working Group II, the [[United Nations Environment Programme]]/[[World Meteorological Organization]] (UNEP/WMO), and the UNEP Global Biodiversity Assessment.

Watson was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the 2012 New Year Honours for his government service.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60009 |date=31 December 2011 |page=1 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |year=2012 |title=New Year Honours 
|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_12_11newyears2012.pdf |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

He is currently Director of Strategic Development for the [[Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research]] at the University of East Anglia.<ref name="Tyndall" />

On 29 February 2016, Watson was elected Chair of [[IPBES]] at the Fourth Plenary of that organisation after having served as its vice-president before.<ref>IPBES (2016): Press Release: IPBES Elects new Bureau and Sir Robert Watson as Chair http://www.ipbes.net/article/press-release-ipbes-elects-new-bureau-and-sir-robert-watson-chair</ref>

== Opinions ==

[[Andrew Revkin]] writing for the ''[[New York Times]]'' described Watson as an "outspoken advocate of the idea that human actions—mainly burning coal and oil—are contributing to [[global warming]] and must be changed to avert environmental upheavals."<ref name="Revkin2002" />

In April 2002 the United States pressed for and won his replacement by [[Rajendra Pachauri]] as IPCC chair. According to ''[[New Scientist]]'', "The oil industry seems to be behind the move." The industry campaign to oust Watson had begun days after [[George W. Bush]]'s inauguration in January 2001, with a memo to the [[White House]] from Randy Randol of oil giant [[ExxonMobil]] asking "Can Watson be replaced now at the request of the US?"<ref name="MacKenzie2002" />

In 2000, Watson stated:
: The overwhelming majority of scientific experts, whilst recognising that scientific uncertainties exist, nonetheless believe that human-induced climate change is inevitable. Indeed, during the last few years, many parts of the world have suffered major heat waves, floods, droughts, fires and extreme weather events leading to significant economic losses and loss of life. While individual events cannot be directly linked to human-induced climate change, the frequency and magnitude of these types of events are predicted to increase in a warmer world.

: The question is not whether climate will change in response to human activities, but rather how much (magnitude), how fast (the rate of change) and where (regional patterns). It is also clear that climate change will, in many parts of the world, adversely affect socio-economic sectors, including water resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and human settlements, ecological systems (particularly forests and coral reefs), and human health (particularly diseases spread by insects), with developing countries being the most vulnerable. The good news is, however, that the majority of experts believe that significant reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions are technically feasible due to an extensive array of technologies and policy measures in the energy supply, energy demand and agricultural and forestry sectors. In addition, the projected adverse [[effects of climate change]] on socio-economic and ecological systems can, to some degree, be reduced through proactive adaptation measures. These are the fundamental conclusions, taken from already approved/accepted IPCC assessments, of a careful and objective analysis of all relevant scientific, technical and economic information by thousands of experts from the appropriate fields of science from academia, governments, industry and environmental organisations from around the world.<ref name="Watson2000" />

== See also ==
* [[Global warming]]
* [[Kyoto Protocol]]

== References ==

{{reflist|2
| refs =
<ref name="Tyndall">
{{cite web
| url = http://tyndall.ac.uk/people/robert-watson
| title = Robert Watson
| publisher = Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
| access-date = 20 July 2010
}}</ref>
<ref name="DEFRA">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/science/how/adviser.htm
 |title       = Chief Scientific Adviser
 |date        = 5 October 2007
 |work        = DEFRA
 |publisher   = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
 |access-date  = 20 July 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100705223036/http://www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/science/how/adviser.htm
 |archive-date = 5 July 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
<ref name="Revkin2002">
{{cite news
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/02/world/dispute-arises-over-a-push-to-change-climate-panel.html
| last = Revkin
| first = Andrew C.
| title = Dispute Arises Over a Push To Change Climate Panel
| date = 2 April 2002
| work = The New York Times
| access-date = 20 July 2010
}}</ref>
<ref name="MacKenzie2002">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/mg17423392.400
| last = MacKenzie
| first = Debora
| title = Too hot for head of climate panel
| work = New Scientist
| date = 20 April 2002
| access-date = 20 July 2010
}}</ref>
<ref name="Watson2000">
 {{cite web
| url = http://www.ipcc.ch/press/sp-cop6.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070604193752/http://www.ipcc.ch/press/sp-cop6.htm
| archive-date = 4 June 2007
| title = Presentation of Robert T. Watson Chair Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at the Sixth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
| first = Robert T.
| last = Watson
| author-link = Robert Watson (scientist)
| date = 13 November 2000
| publisher = International Panel on Climate Change
}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.world-nuclear.org/sym/1998/watsobio.htm Brief bio]
* <!---deadlink October 2014:---http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/sci/env/people/facstaff/watsonr--->[https://tyndall.ac.uk/people/robert-watson Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research bio]
* <!---deadlink October 2014:---http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/sop2004/dkv/signs_politics.html--->[http://events.ei.columbia.edu/sop2004/dkv/signs_politics.html Short CV]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141029115844/http://www.ipbes.net/component/docman/doc_download/1142-cv-robert-watson.html?Itemid=58 Vita] at [[IPBES]]
* [http://clinton1.nara.gov/White_House/EOP/OSTP/Environment/html/Watson_Bio.html Biography] at the [[White House]]'s Interactive Citizen's Handbook
* ''[[New Scientist]]'', 20 April 2002, [https://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/mg17423392.400 "Too hot for head of climate panel"]
* ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', 22 April 2002, [https://web.archive.org/web/20050830134241/http://slate.msn.com/id/2064611/ "Did Exxon Mobil Get Bush To Oust the Global Warming Chief?&nbsp;– Al Gore spoils Dubya's Earth Day"]
* [http://www.nrdc.org/media/docs/020403.pdf ExxonMobil memo]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Bert Bolin]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = Chairman of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change|IPCC]] | years = 1997–2002 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Rajendra K. Pachauri]] }}
{{s-end}}

{{FRS 2011}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Robert}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Queen Mary University of London]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of East Anglia]]
[[Category:British climatologists]]
[[Category:Atmospheric chemists]]
[[Category:World Bank people]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:British officials of the United Nations]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]