07 Apr 2007 - Brussels,
Belgium The latest report from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents
a devastating outlook for the world's environment
and economy, unless action is taken to stop
climate change.
The IPCC report clearly shows that the
impacts of climate change are here, now
and will only get worse. Sea levels are
already rising; 100 million people who live
less than one metre above sea level are
at risk of losing their homes and their
livelihoods. In India and China people could
go hungry as crops fail due to the effects
of global warming.
Freshwater supply for hundreds of millions
of people is at risk. But even this summary
report only represents the tip of the iceberg.
The effects of climate change are altering
the chemistry of the planet, causing the
extinctions of species, and undermining
economic and social development.
"Delegates wrestled to agree each
word because they knew that their heads
of state are anxiously waiting for the conclusions
of this important scientific conference,"
says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF's Global
Climate Change Programme.
"The urgency of this report, prepared
by the world's top scientists, should be
matched with an equally urgent response
by governments.
"There's no escaping the facts: global
warming will bring hunger, floods and water
shortages. Poor countries that bear least
responsibility will suffer most and they
have no money to respond but people should
also be aware that even the richer countries
risk enormous damage. Doing nothing is not
an option, on the contrary it will have
disastrous consequences. The industrialized
countries simply need to accept their responsibilities
and start implementing the solutions,"
adds Verolme.
The IPCC experts state clearly that some
climate change is already unavoidable: but
there is still time to protect ourselves
against some of the most disastrous effects.
This response must come as part of a broad
and rapid change of development strategies,
looking to avoid significant CO2 emissions.
"The irritating thing is that we have
all the tools at hand to limit climate change
and save the world from the worst impacts,"
says Dr Lara Hansen, Chief Scientist of
WWF's Global Climate Change Programme.
"The IPCC makes it clear that there
is a window of opportunity but that it's
closing fast. The world needs to use its
collective brains to think ahead for the
next ten years and work together to prevent
this crisis."
"It becomes an economic as much as
an ethical priority to defend what remains
of nature on this planet -mangroves and
coral reefs protect coasts, forests protect
watersheds," adds Hansen. "Our
societies are dependent upon nature, yet
we have undermined it for centuries. Now,
with climate change, we are attacking the
very basis of the natural world, putting
us all at risk."
Martin Hiller, Communications Manager
WWF Global Climate Change Programme
