Press release
Met Office climate warning must be wake-up call to Government
5 December 2011
Commenting on the results of a major new Met Office report published today, which highlights the global impacts of failing to keep climate change below a two degree rise in temperature, Friends of the Earth's Policy and Campaigns Director Craig Bennett said:
"From extreme flooding to devastating storms, we are already feeling climate change bite - and many are being hit by rising bills caused by dirty fossil fuels.
"This report must be a wake-up call - we need tough international action to slash emissions, create clean jobs and give us all affordable energy.
"The world's wealthiest nations have pumped out most of the climate-changing pollution - they must now show leadership by pledging strong emissions cuts under the existing Kyoto climate treaty."
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Met Office report was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change - press release available here.
- Friends of the Earth is asking people to email Tomasz Chruszczow, Europe's lead negotiator at the international climate summit currently taking place in Durban, asking him to make sure the EU:
• unconditionally supports a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol;
• agrees to a legally-binding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 40 per cent by 2020, without carbon offsetting;
• closes current loopholes, like carbon trading, which allow the EU to keep polluting.
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
Last modified: Dec 2011
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