15/03/2005 - The world
may only have 10 years to take action to reduce
soaring greenhouse gas emissions, the top
20 energy-using economies are being told by
WWF today.
Jennifer Morgan, WWF International’s Director
of Climate Change Programme, is telling ministers
at the Energy and Environment Ministerial
Roundtable that the consequences of inaction
will hit the world’s poorest people the hardest.
For example, an increase in global temperature
of around 2 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial
levels) would leave countries such as India,
Africa and Mexico facing food and water security
issues.
Morgan will urge ministers to commit to reducing
CO2 emissions, increasing the use of renewable
energy and implementing energy efficiency
measures. She will also stress the inextricable
link between climate change and economic development.
Jennifer Morgan explained:
“Climate change is not just an environmental
issue. If countries tackle global warming
it will bring other benefits such as making
their economies more competitive and reducing
their dependency on foreign oil.”
“We want ministers to decide on a common
vision on how to tackle climate change. This
generation of politicians is the last generation
who have it in their power to secure the future
of our planet, to safeguard the health and
livelihoods of millions of people and the
habitats that sustain their lives. History
will not forgive them if they fail to act.”
WWF has written to all participating ministers
calling on them to work together to reduce
the rate of global warming. In particular
WWF is calling on countries to keep the average
rise in global temperature well below 2 degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On Monday
(14 March) WWF issued a report which showed
that many millions of people could face water
shortages in the future because global warming
has accelerated the retreat of the Himalayan
glaciers.
