Archived press release

Climate change poll: everyone can take action

29 July 2004

Commenting on today's (Thursday 29 July) BBC poll that the majority of the public accept human activity is responsible for climate change but don't see it as an important issue in the UK, Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper said:

"The fact that the British public doesn't see climate change as really affecting life in the UK is not surprising as the Government has been extremely reluctant make it a public priority and to tackle rising emissions from transport, households and commerce. " "Carbon dioxide emissions, the main gas responsible for climate change, have risen since Tony Blair became Prime Minister. If politicians avoid the issue its not surprising that the public don't realise how serious it is. The UK public are among millions of people around the world who will suffer from climate change; including the elderly in the UK and those living on floodplains and low-lying areas. Sadly we are sleep-walking to disaster."

Friends of the Earth's "Climate Challenge" gives the public information about climate change, and provides ideas about what individuals can do to help tackle the issue [4]

Notes

[1] BBC poll: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3934363.stm

[2] Climate change is the most serious environmental problem facing the planet. In the UK it will mean more unpredictable weather, more storms and rising seas, leading to floods, drought, failed harvests, the spread of disease and whole species being wiped out. It could even mean changes to the Gulf Stream with the north of the UK getting cooler while most of the world warms up.

[3] Earlier this year the Association of British Insurers warned that the implications of climate change must be addressed now if insurers are to continue offering widely available and affordable cover. According to the ABI climate change is not an issue that would have an impact in the future, but was something that was already affecting insurance, with household claims relating to storm and flood damage doubling in the five years to 2003 to 6 billion. It warned that insurers faced the prospect of these claims further tripling by 2050 if no action was taken. See: http://www.abi.org.uk

The Friends of the Earth website gives you more information about climate change, and provides ideas about what you and your family can do to help tackle the issue.

Climate Challenge

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust