I’d agree that it doesn’t seem that the IPCC caused political polarization. My observation is that it has been a victim or target of that polarization (as have most efforts at climate action become subject to polarization attempts). If the IPCC hadn’t existed, I think there would still be just as much effort to polarize climate action. There would just be one less target/victim of that polarization.
On the topic of the current political environment and whether it makes sense to create institutions today: It’s worth noting that the IPCC isn’t the only such institution, and some of these were created much more recently, in a time when, according to this argument, there was more polarization. For example, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has a similar structure to the IPCC, but was created in 2012. It has not been credibly accused, to my knowledge, of polarizing conversations on biodiversity. Rather, it is generally viewed as positively contributing to an understanding of the scientific consensus, and remaining uncertainties, around biodiversity and ecosystem services and the available policy options.
I don’t think IPBES is relevant evidence here because ~no one in the US cares about biodiversity as a national policy issue. It has no salience whatsoever, it is not something that can be polarized.
I’d agree that it doesn’t seem that the IPCC caused political polarization. My observation is that it has been a victim or target of that polarization (as have most efforts at climate action become subject to polarization attempts). If the IPCC hadn’t existed, I think there would still be just as much effort to polarize climate action. There would just be one less target/victim of that polarization.
On the topic of the current political environment and whether it makes sense to create institutions today: It’s worth noting that the IPCC isn’t the only such institution, and some of these were created much more recently, in a time when, according to this argument, there was more polarization. For example, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has a similar structure to the IPCC, but was created in 2012. It has not been credibly accused, to my knowledge, of polarizing conversations on biodiversity. Rather, it is generally viewed as positively contributing to an understanding of the scientific consensus, and remaining uncertainties, around biodiversity and ecosystem services and the available policy options.
I don’t think IPBES is relevant evidence here because ~no one in the US cares about biodiversity as a national policy issue. It has no salience whatsoever, it is not something that can be polarized.