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18/06/2009
UK Needs To Prepare For Climate Challenge
New climate projections just revealed have underlined the need to prepare the UK for a warmer future and to take action now to limit the severity of change.
UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said that the UK Climate Projections 2009 confirm that the UK is likely to see hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters coupled with more frequent extreme weather such as flooding, heatwaves and droughts.
The projections show a range of climate changes up until the end of the century based on three possible greenhouse gas emissions pathways – high, medium and low.
According to the government the world's emissions are currently equivalent to the medium pathway, although there is a risk we could still be heading for the 'high' scenario.
But while no one can be absolutely certain what will happen in the future, these projections – for the first time – show the probability of potential changes for the UK.
London will be between 2C and 6C hotter by the 2080s.
Summer temperatures in Scotland could increase by more than 3ºC.
In the South East of England, Yorkshire and Humber summer rainfall is likely to decrease by more than a fifth (22%).
Mr Benn said: "This landmark scientific evidence shows not only that we need to tackle the causes of climate change but also that we must deal with the consequences.
"The Projections will allow us to make sure we have a resilient infrastructure to cope – whether it’s the design of school buildings or protection of new power plants, maintaining the supply of drinking water, adjusting ways of farming for drier summers or understanding how our homes and businesses will have to adapt."
Met Office Chief Scientist, Julia Slingo, said businesses and authorities now have the tools to help them make risk-based decisions to adapt to the challenges of our changing climate.
(GK/BMcc)
UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said that the UK Climate Projections 2009 confirm that the UK is likely to see hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters coupled with more frequent extreme weather such as flooding, heatwaves and droughts.
The projections show a range of climate changes up until the end of the century based on three possible greenhouse gas emissions pathways – high, medium and low.
According to the government the world's emissions are currently equivalent to the medium pathway, although there is a risk we could still be heading for the 'high' scenario.
But while no one can be absolutely certain what will happen in the future, these projections – for the first time – show the probability of potential changes for the UK.
London will be between 2C and 6C hotter by the 2080s.
Summer temperatures in Scotland could increase by more than 3ºC.
In the South East of England, Yorkshire and Humber summer rainfall is likely to decrease by more than a fifth (22%).
Mr Benn said: "This landmark scientific evidence shows not only that we need to tackle the causes of climate change but also that we must deal with the consequences.
"The Projections will allow us to make sure we have a resilient infrastructure to cope – whether it’s the design of school buildings or protection of new power plants, maintaining the supply of drinking water, adjusting ways of farming for drier summers or understanding how our homes and businesses will have to adapt."
Met Office Chief Scientist, Julia Slingo, said businesses and authorities now have the tools to help them make risk-based decisions to adapt to the challenges of our changing climate.
(GK/BMcc)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
