Act on Copenhagen
Climate map shows impacts if we fail to limit dangerous climate change
Charge d'Affaires Andrew Staunton presented a copy of a new map developed in the UK to illustrate the global consequences of failing to limit dangerous climate change to Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan. The Minister welcomed the map as an important tool to reinforce the need to act now.
The map - launched at London's Science Museum by Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Climate and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, along with the UK's Chief Scientist, Professor John Beddington, was developed using the latest peer-reviewed science from the Met Office Hadley Centre and other leading impact scientists. The poster, presented to Minister Ryan, shows that global average temperature rises by 4 degrees C above the pre-industrial climate average would have a severe impact on water availability, agricultural productivity, extreme temperatures and drought, the risk of forest fire and sea level rise.
Andrew Staunton said "We all need to take strong and decisive action on climate change, the world cannot cope with a 4 degree temperature rise. The commitment and ambition to reach an ambitious outcome at the Copenhagen negotiations in December is something we share with our Irish colleagues".
The on-line version of the 4 degree map provides an interactive web tool which allows the user to focus on certain impacts, geographies, and access more embedded information about the science behind the map.
