Dr Rachendra Pachuri invokes a defence also heard from British Cabinet Ministers. They were in charge but they were not responsible.
In an interview published on Wednesday, the IPPC chairman said a personal apology would be a "populist" step as he continued to refuse calls to resign.
“You can’t expect me to be personally responsible for every word in a 3,000 page report,” he said.
"I don't do too many populist things, that is why I'm so unpopular with a certain section of society.
"We're in an information society today and we have to respond adequately and professionally. We've been weak in that regard to be honest. The IPCC is starting to realise we're living in a very different world to what we had in 1988.”
This odd statement conveys the notion that accountability is 'populist' and that if this had taken place back in 1988, Pachauri would not need to worry because his work would not be open to scrutiny by a concerned public. Well, there is some progress. We can hold these bodies to account and demand a proper response.
In the past, public institutions were considered to be more accountable Because they subscribed to some myth of 'public service'. That was not true but it kept the plebs in order. Now that their feet can truly be held to the fire, accountability becomes too onerous and is discarded. This seems to be a common response amongst the public sector and the tranzis.
And still the scares keep coming....