Science Fact: Why the Road to Copenhagen Matters

In 2012, the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate change and global warming runs out. On 7 December 2009, the UN Climate Conference will open in Copenhagen. This week scientific projections about global warming were published showing that by 2080, even at a low emissions scenario temperature increases in southern England could be around 3 degrees. If we follow a high emissions path, the increase could be 5 degrees.  That means we're likely to see hotter drier summers and warmer wetter winters in the UK, coupled with increased frequency of extreme weather such as heatwaves, dry spells, heavy rain and flooding. Furthermore, the world's poorest communities suffer the most from climate change; without a strong agreement, our capacity to end world poverty is also at risk.

The messages from these projections are stark.  Firstly, cutting global greenhouse gas emissions is vital- the more successfully we move to a low carbon economy the less climate change to which we will need to adapt.  Secondly, however, cutting emissions is not enough. We need to adapt to the inevitable climate change we will face and plan accordingly. The 2008 Climate Change Act made Britain the first country in the world to set legally binding 'carbon budgets', aiming to cut UK emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.  The Government will also set out shortly its aims for Copenhagen and in July there will be a white paper on how we can as a country meet our carbon budget targets.

But I believe that Government alone cannot tackle this issue. All of us will have to work together to change the way in which we live if we want a safer, more sustainable and more socially just society for every human being. That's why as well as seeking to support local environmental action organisations, I'm also working with other local residents to develop a range of activities on the "road to Copenhagen" to encourage everyone here to support action on climate change. This group is now planning activities for the months ahead including a visit by Ed Miliband MP, the Secretary of State for Climate Change to Walthamstow. He will be leading the efforts of the Government to achieve a new international climate agreement at Copenhagen in December. If you would like to be part of this discussion and help we're meeting this Saturday in Daisy's Café in Hoe Street at 11.30am.