The IPCC has just approved its Fourth Assessment Synthesis
report, which sums up the key points from its three earlier reports
published this year on climate change science, its impacts and the
mitigation options. The synthesis report will be the key reference
document for policymakers in the coming years.
"It's clear from this report that we are gambling with the
future of the planet - and the stakes are high," said Greenpeace
New Zealand's Cindy Baxter from Valencia. "This document sets out a
compelling case for early action on climate change. And it must
take centre stage at the Kyoto talks in Bali in December."
She said governments should be constantly referring back to this
report during the negotiations. "We expect to see their personal
copies of the Synthesis Report return from Bali, battered and worn
from frequent use, with paragraphs underlined and notes in the
margin."
The IPCC reports of "unequivocal" climate change already
occurring and
warns that man-made global warming could lead to abrupt or
irreversible
impacts.
However, it also confirms that all greenhouse gas stabilisation
levels can be achieved with currently available technologies or
those expected to be commercialised in the coming decades.
"We have a choice - irreversible impacts - or an Energy
Revolution.
Greenpeace believes it is possible to keep the worst impacts of
climate
change - the extreme weather events, water crises and increased
hunger -
from putting millions of people at risk. This will take a
revolution in
the way we use and produce energy, and a strong commitment to
stop
deforestation worldwide."
Greenpeace New Zealand climate change campaigner Jim Footner
said the New Zealand government had a crucial role to play in Bali,
and its international reputation is on the line. "The New Zealand
delegation must go to Bali and push for a global emissions
reduction target that keeps warming below two degrees. The IPCC
itself specifies a range of between 25 and 40 per cent reductions
below 1990 levels by 2020 for developed countries like New
Zealand."
Amongst the severe risks the report labels as 'reasons for
concern' are:
* New evidence that the poor and elderly are two groups most
at risk
in both rich and poor countries from the impacts of
climate
change: more hunger, more disease, greater risks from
extreme
weather events
* Major extinctions of plants and animals around the
world
* Widespread mass die off of coral reefs, threatening the
livelihoods of millions
* Harder droughts, more intense heatwaves and greatly
increased flood
risks are projected for areas of the world already hard
hit, often
in the poorest parts of the world.
* Increasing risk of more rapid sea level rise as the
Greenland and
Antarctic ice sheets melt from warming, with major risks to
small
islands and to the huge, heavily populated mega deltas of
Asia
* Increasing risk of species extinction,
* more certainty in the projected increases in droughts,
heatwaves
and floods.
* There is more evidence of greater vulnerability of the poor
and
elderly in both the developed and developing world and of
Arctic
and small island communities.
See IPCC website for further report details.
Other contacts: Kathy Cumming - communications officer - 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2007-12-19 00:00:00