Climate change – politicians must act on global threat

Reacting to the release of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment, Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland said:

“Temperatures are up, polar ice is disappearing and the oceans are getting more acid. Scientists are clear climate change is real, is caused by humans and is already having severe impacts on people and nature. The world is already a degree warmer than it was, and could be heading for a disastrous 4.5 degrees of warming by 2100. The world’s politicians can’t continue to stand idly by while the world goes spinning towards a climate catastrophe.

“Tough action is urgently needed to end the planet’s dangerous fossil fuel fixation and to develop the huge job-creating potential of renewable power – with countries like Scotland taking the lead.

“Scotland has world-leading climate targets but we need to try harder to actually meet them, with more investment needed in insulating people’s homes, a major shift in focus from cars to public transport, walking and cycling and a continuing transformation of the electricity sector.

“Faced with overwhelming scientific evidence, supported by the public, there is no excuse for failing to act on climate change.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth assessment report, setting out a clear view of the current state of scientific knowledge on climate change, was published today. http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/uploads/WGIAR5-SPM_Approved27Sep…

2. Podcast by leading UK climate scientist, Professor Kevin Anderson from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research – recorded ahead publication of the IPCC report – on the science of climate change: http://www.foe.co.uk/news/ipcc_report_41189.html

3. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:

* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation

* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland

* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent.

www.foe-scotland.org.uk