24th June 2009

Stroud District Green Party expressed deep concern about latest research on climate and Government inaction (i).

Photo: Climate march in London 

Green Party Parliamentary candidate Cllr Martin Whiteside comments: "The Met Office's new climate change report shows we can expect wetter winters in Gloucestershire and much hotter, drier summers. This may have some tourism advantages but will be extremely bad for agriculture. Farmers and growers will be forced like never before to reconsider their crops and also invest in means of capturing and using rainfall for the long dry spells.  The prediction of one in six homes becoming at risk of flooding is quite stunning. This makes all the more crazy any County plans for developments across flood plains."

Cllr Martin Whiteside, District councillor for Thrupp, said: "The Met Office says sea level around the UK rose by about 1mm/yr in the 20th century. The rate for the 1990s and 2000s has been higher. A report by the World Development Movement has already indicated that the emissions of the 1990s and 2000s could lead to a 5 metre sea level rise rather than the original common prediction of 1 metre(ii). This will mean a complete rethink about where we build and what areas we will need to protect and which we may need to let go. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of Climate Change must be the top priority of our Government, the County Council and the District Council.  Fortunately if we invest massively in cutting our emissions we can also stimulate employment and combat the recession - it is the only way ahead that makes sense.  Our economy, natural environment, built environment and agriculture will all suffer unless we give this issue the priority it deserves."

Sarah Lunnon, District and newly elected County councillor for the Green party said: "The biggest issue facing us is not council tax rises or pot holes in the road, it is climate change. the question is do we have the will to provide sufficient funding to implement farsighted reduction and adaption schemes. Climate change is our biggest priority and funding to tackle it must reflect that."

Philip Booth, a District councillor added: "We have just heard this week a leading UK climate scientist has warned MPs that the government's climate change policies are 'dangerously optimistic' (iii). Professor Kevin Anderson is hugely negative about what he expects the climate talks in Copenhagen will achieve. He says that if our government's planned carbon cuts were followed internationally then we would have only a '50-50 chance' of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 2C. This is the threshold that the EU defines as leading to "dangerous" climate change. He urges the UK to show leadership. Indeed it is time."

Notes:
(i)  See here.
(ii) World Development Movement  Carbon evictions: the UK's role in forced migration of climate refugees  World Development Movement, no date.
(iii) See Guardian report here.

The overall Defra summary document is here

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8107014.stm
Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/18/uk-weather-climate-impact-report
Times:  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6524508.ece