New predictions about the impact climate change could have on Scotland and the rest of the UK are a wake-up call that cannot be ignored, says Christian Aid. Scotland’s politicians must therefore pass a Climate Change Bill that ensures the country takes a fair share of the global effort required to avoid dangerous climate change.
As the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announce UK predictions for increased flooding and dramatic temperature rises of 6 degrees C or more by 2080 if climate change is not halted, Christian Aid assesses the implications beyond our shores.
Whatever difficulties Scotland and the rest of UK will face from rising temperatures, the impact on countries in the developing world will be much worse.
‘Life in parts of the Scotland and the rest of the UK will get harder, but it will get a great deal harder in countries already suffering the impact of climate change,’ says Una Bartley, policy and parliamentary officer for Christian Aid Scotland.
‘It is widely recognised that a fair and equitable global solution to stabilise global warming will require industralised nations to cut their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020. Whilst we congratulate the Scottish Parliament on taking forward this crucial piece of legislation, the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill must include plans to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020, not by only 34 per cent as it currently stands.’
‘The current global temperature rise of around 0.8 degrees C is already causing 300,000 deaths from climate change across the developing world and the predicted temperature rises in the coming century mean poorer countries will continue to bear the brunt of its impacts’ says Dr Alison Doig, Christian Aid’s senior climate policy expert.
‘Rising sea levels are already threatening communities in the Pacific and parts of Bangladesh, Dr Doig continued, ‘while drought is destroying lives and livelihoods in a number of African countries.’
Extreme weather phenomena such as hurricanes and typhoons has increased in places such as the Caribbean and South East Asia, while diseases thriving in warm temperatures affecting both humans and livestock are also increasingly prevalent.
The world’s poorest countries are least able to respond to the changing climate, and have least resources in terms of health services, emergency responses and ability to rebuild lost assets.
‘The answer lies in our own hands,’ said Dr. Doig. ‘It is imperative that the international community agrees a tough, new, carbon-reduction deal at the next UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December.
‘This is another reason why Gordon Brown needs to show real leadership on climate change and consider attend the negotiations in person.’
‘If global warming is to be kept below 2 degrees C, the point beyond which scientists predict climate catastrophe, rich countries must agree to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020. And those cuts have to be made domestically, not bought on the carbon off-set market.
‘In addition, developing countries must receive massive injections of finance from the industrialised world to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change already upon them, and develop in a low carbon way.
‘If the rich countries that bear by far the greatest responsibility for carbon emissions are seen to be unwilling to make real sacrifices, developing countries will question why they too should not pollute at will as they advance economically.’
Christian Aid and other development and environment groups estimate that industrialised countries should contribute 110bn Euros yearly by 2020 to support climate work in developing countries.
For more press information, please contact Claire Aston on 07961 303481 or caston@christian-aid.org or Una Bartley on 0131 240 1524 or ubartley@christian-aid.org
Notes to Editors:
The Met Office’s UK Climate Projections 2009 report, based on Met Office science, illustrate the extent of the changes the UK might face in the absence of global action to cut emissions warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, increased risk of coastal erosion and more severe weather
In the report, the Met Office predicts that across Scotland winters could be up to 3oC warmer and 24% wetter; summers could be nearly 4.5% warmer and 20% drier; sea levels could rise by over 30cm in Edinburgh and snowfall could reduce by 60% or more in the mountains.
Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in nearly 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the life they deserve. www.christianaidscotland.org
Christian Aid is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Coalition, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions - www.stopclimatechaosscotland.org
Together with faith-based development agencies in a number of other European countries, Christian Aid has launched a new climate justice campaign called Countdown to Copenhagen. www.countdowntocopenhagen.com.The figure of 300,000 deaths from climate change is taken from the estimates in report ‘Human Impact Report: Climate Change – The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis’ released by the Humanitarian Forum earlier this month.