Brit climate change expert says Copenhagen will be last chance to save Earth
December 2nd, 2009 - 4:10 pm ICT by ANILondon, Dec.2 (ANI): Britain’s leading expert on Climate change, Lord Nicholas Stern of Brentford, has said the summit on challenges of global warming at Copenhagen, Denmark, could well be the last chance to save Earth.
Without an international agreement to limit global warming, temperatures are likely to rise by 9F (5C) by the end of the century - triggering mass migration, warfare and world hunger, according to the report.
But Lord Stern, who produced the report together with the London School of Economics and other leading academics, said it was still possible for the world to keep the temperature rise below 3.6F (2C) - but only if world leaders agree to cut global emissions at next week’s UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
Lord Stern described the summit as the “most important gathering since the second world war, given what is at stake”.
His comments come as the Prince of Wales confirmed he would attend the summit to urge world leaders to take action against climate change.
“Let us not allow mistrust, pessimism and lack of ambition to take us stumbling into profound dangers. Instead let us have real vision and leadership in both developed and developing countries which seize the opportunities offered by Copenhagen, for us, our children and future generations,” The Telegraph quoted him, as saying.
Lord Stern had previously said the world must keep levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere below 550 parts per million of carbon dioxide. However, following scientific evidence that the world is losing its ability to absorb carbon dioxide in the soils and oceans, he said this will now have to be kept below 500ppm.
The former World Bank economist’s report on climate change in 2006 - known as The Stern Report - is regarded as the single most influential political document on climate change in Britain. (ANI)
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