Scientist warns over climate change
Scientist warns over climate change
Also In The News
|
Bradford Bulls snatched a last minute win in a pulsating 20-18 clash with Leeds Rhinos at Headingley. |  |
Friday, 14, Apr 2006 06:38
The world is likely to suffer a temperature rise of more than three degrees centigrade over the next 100 years, the government's chief scientist has warned.
Professor Sir David King said in a government report that the rise in temperature would put up to 400 million people worldwide at risk of hunger, based on computer predictions.
He said the world had to act now to tackle global warming and that it was too late for international agreements to curb global warming.
The UK Government and the EU want to stabilise the climate at an increase of no more than two degress, but the US refuses to cut emissions and those of India and China are rising quickly.
The report says a three degree rise would cause a drop worldwide of between 20 and 400 million tonnes in cereal crops and put about 400 million more people at risk of hunger.
Professor King told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "We don't have to succumb to a state of despondency where we say that there is nothing we can do so let's just carry on living as per usual.
"It is very important to understand that we can manage the risks to our population.
"What we are talking about here is something that will play through over decades - we are talking 100 years or so.
"We need to begin that process of investment." 