Lyn Fraley - 1-Jun-2007
- As National Wildlife Week approaches (from
2 June 2007), the Environment Agency is
urging people to act to reduce their carbon
footprint before climate change alters our
East Midlands landscape and habitat forever.
We hear a lot about the impact of climate
change on people and countries, but we should
not forget the impact on our wildlife.
We are asking East Midlands people to take
part in a survey to tell us what they are
already doing to help tackle climate change,
and what else they can do to help. We have
already conducted a MORI poll, the results
of which were announced last week, but we
want everyone to take part in the survey
for World Environment Day (5 June 2007)
at www.mendoftheworld.org. The results will
help us to shape our work on climate change
over the next few years.
Humans have already ploughed up and concreted
over much of the habitat our wildlife depends
on. Climate change, also caused largely
by human behaviour, could be the final straw
for some wildlife.
Summer droughts will affect animals as
well as humans, leaving us all short of
water. Winter storms, flooding and rising
sea levels will destroy natural habitat.
As the climate changes, the Midlands birds
and animals that are such a familiar and
reassuring sight now will migrate where
they can. Some, especially those that are
less mobile, may become extinct.
Climate change is expected to push the
natural range of wildlife species north
by about 50 to 80 kilometres a decade. Some
species will be squeezed into ever smaller
fragments of the landscape and up mountainsides.
East Midlands species that are likely to
be adversely affected by climate change,
making it harder for them to survive include:
water voles, whose burrows will be exposed
by low summer water levels
otters, who will suffer as a result of lower
summer water levels and reduced water quality
the skylark, which will be affected by the
switch from spring to autumn grown crops
and an Increased use of pesticides
bullfinches, as the insect larvae their
chicks feed on will no longer be around
at the right time
the song thrush, as there will be less food
available for them in dry summers, and summer
storms may kill young chicks.
Climate change is also affecting migratory
birds. For example, we could lose many of
our wading birds, which may head to wintering
grounds further north.
By acting now to reduce climate change,
we can limit the damage. Regional Strategy
Manager, Neil Davies, says: "Unless
we change our ways, the decisions of this
generation will leave a legacy of increasing
climate change and it will be our own children
and grandchildren, and our native plants
and animals, that will suffer.
"We live in the birthplace of industry.
I want us now to lead the drive to tackle
the climate change that results from the
carbon emissions generated by industrial
processes. We must reduce our emissions
and that requires action by every single
one of us."
Notes to editors
The East Midlands at a glance:
The climate change model predicts that,
if we continue to discharge large amounts
of greenhouse gases, by 2050 in the East
Midlands:
Annual mean temperatures could rise by
up to 2.3ºC, with increases greater
in the south of the region than in the north
Winter rainfall could increase by up to
13%
Summer rainfall could decrease by up to
18%
Sea levels on the East Coast could rise
by up to 83cm
And by 2080:
Average annual temperatures may increase
by up to 5ºC
Summer rainfall may decrease by up as much
as 60%
Winter rainfall may increase by up to 30%
The amounts of greenhouse gases used in
the model are estimated so the model can
only show how the climate may change in
the future, not necessarily how it will
change; but people and the environment are
expected to be affected in a number of ways
for many years into the future.
This year’s World Environment Day survey
The initial Ipsos MORI Poll, taken to launch
the World Environment Day survey, found:
41% of British people say they’re already
doing something to help tackle climate change,
48% of older people (aged 45-64) were doing
something to tackle climate change, compared
to only a 34% of young people (aged 15-34),
76% people living in the Eastern region
of England said they were tackling climate
change compared with only 22% of people
living in London.
People more likely to do something to tackle
climate change are:
Women (44%), in comparison to men (39%);
Older people (aged 45-64: 48%), in comparison
to younger people (15-34: 34%);
Residents in the Eastern region of England
(76%), Wales (64%) and South West (62%)
in comparison to residents of all other
regions including: East Midlands (48%),
West Midlands (40%), South East (36%), North
East (35%), North West (34%), Yorkshire
and Humberside (34%), Scotland (25%) and
London (22%);
Those belonging to social grades AB (52%),
in comparison to those belonging to C1s
(40%), C2s (40%) and DEs (33%).
People more likely to mention recycling
as the number one thing they are doing to
tackle climate change are:
Women (25%), in comparison to men (20%);
Middle aged people (aged 35-64: 27%) in
comparison to younger people (aged 15-34
years: 19%) and older people (aged 65+:
18%);
Residents of Wales (46%), the South West
(38%), Eastern Region (34%) and East Midlands
(29%) in comparison to residents of North
West (18%), South East (16%), London (12%)
and Scotland (11%);
Those who belong to social grades AB (26%)
or C2 (26%), in comparison to those belonging
to DE (17%).
People more likely to mention low energy
light bulbs are:
Relatively older people (aged 35 years
and above: 6%), in comparison to younger
people (aged 15-24 years: 1%);
Residents of the Eastern region (18%),
South East (7%) and South West (6%) in comparison
to residents of North West (1%) and London
(1%).
Technical note on Ipsos MORI poll
Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative
total sample of 2,130 adults in Great Britain
aged 15+.
Fieldwork for Great Britain was conducted
between 9-15 March 2007, with an additional
120 interviews completed in Wales between
23-29 March 2007. Weighting was used to
correct this boost and ensure the regions
are representative.
Interviews were carried out face-to-face,
in home, using computer assisted personal
interviewing machines, as part of the Ipsos
MORI Omnibus.
Results are weighted to the equivalent
population profile.
Our survey for World Environment Day continues
at www.mendoftheworld.org.
