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UK congratulates RP on climate change act but...


As it congratulated the Philippines over the signing into law of the Climate Change Act Friday, the United Kingdom warned of more challenges ahead due to climate change. British Embassy Charge d'Affaires Colin Crorkin noted the challenges posed by climate change can be seen in an online map the UK launched. "(Cyclones) Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) gave us a glimpse of what's in store for us if we neglect climate change," he said. But he said the world must act against climate change soonest, saying the Philippines and other countries may experience more typhoons, floods, droughts, and heat waves. He said a temperature change of four degrees may present a "truly global problem that needs a global solution and it is a solution we have within our grasp." Food shortage, disease and conflict as a result become very real possibilities, he added. In the Philippines' case, he said the country "may experience more typhoons, floods, droughts, heat waves and crop production shortage in the coming years." The UK government launched the new map 45 days to go before international climate change talks begin in Copenhagen. British ministers are pressing for the most ambitious deal possible to avoid these dangerous impacts. The map, launched at the Science Museum by UK 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. It highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by 4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial climate average. "Ahead of December's international climate change talks in Copenhagen, the Government is aiming for an agreement that limits climate change as far as possible to 2 degrees Celsius. Increases of more than 2 degrees will have huge impacts on the world," the UK Embassy said. The poster shows that the average land temperature will be 5.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Impacts on human activity shown on the map are only a selection of those that may occur, and highlight the severe effects on water availability, agricultural productivity, extreme temperatures and drought, the risk of forest fires and sea level rise. "It is only by doing this that we can minimise the huge security risks presented by a future 4 degree world," UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said. - GMANews.TV

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