Benn paints grim climate change picture

Thursday, 18 June 2009 12:00 AM

Climate change could see temperatures reach 12C higher on the hottest summer days by the end of the century, a major report out today has found.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn told the Commons the UK had to adapt now to prevent this scenario, envisaged by the UK Climate Projections 2009 report's 'high' greenhouse gas emission pathway, from becoming reality.

The 'medium' scenario which Britain is heading for at present expects average summer temperatures in the south-east to increase by between 2C and 6C.

Summer rainfall in the same region would decrease by over a fifth while sea levels would rise by 36cm.

Mr Benn said: "The projections will allow us to make sure we have a resilient infrastructure to cope - whether it's the design of school buildings or protection of new power plants, maintaining the supply of drinking water, adjusting ways of farming for drier summers or understanding how our homes and businesses will have to adapt."

The report acknowledges that emissions so far mean unavoidable climate change will see temperatures in southern England rise by over two degrees by the 2040s.

It warns without a global deal to reduce emissions at this December's Copenhagen summit the 'high' scenario may cause further damage.

"These projections add to the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that says mankind must cut carbon emissions now to prevent a future of extreme weather patterns which could threaten the livelihoods of people across the world as well as put plants, animals and sea life in peril," climate change secretary Ed Miliband said.

Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins called the report "extremely valuable".

"The UK government must show real global leadership ahead of December's crucial UN climate summit by agreeing to cut our emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020 - without any offsetting - and ensuring that tackling global warming is at the heart of every policy," he added.

The government has committed to cutting emissions by a third by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2050. It wants other countries to adopt similar measures later this year.

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