Just when you think you might get a few days break from headlines about climate change.......Today has seen the publication of a report by Sir Nicholas Stern for the UK government. In it he states that "The world has to act now on climate change or face devastating economic consequences".
Here are some of the key points in his report. With regard to temperatures:
a) Carbon emissions have already pushed up global temperatures by half a degree Celsius
b) If no action is taken on emissions, there is more than a 75% chance of global temperatures rising between two and three degrees Celsius over the next 50 years
c)There is a 50% chance that average global temperatures could rise by five degrees Celsius
On environmental impact he predicts:
a) Melting glaciers will increase flood risk
b) Crop yields will decline, particularly in Africa
c) Rising sea levels could leave 200 million people permanently displaced
d) Up to 40% of species could face extinction
e) There will be more examples of extreme weather patterns
The graph below is taken from the report and shows how rising temperature may impact on our globe:
There has been a lot of media coverage of the report today and you can link into some of it by clicking on either of the images above.
