"It is very clear that humans are changing the face of the
planet as we know it and we must take immediate steps to curtail
the most significant risks to people and ecosystems throughout the
world," said John Coequyt, Greenpeace USA energy policy analyst in
Brussels at the meeting.
In its February 2007 report "Climate Change 2007: The Physical
Science Basis," the IPCC expressed a greater than 90% certainty
that most of the observed warming over the past half-century is
caused by human activities. The latest report adds more detail,
documenting the effect that rising temperatures have already had on
people and ecosystems and what the future holds under different
scenarios.
"We can actually make a difference if we reduce global warming
pollution to a level that keeps the global average temperature well
below 2 degrees Celsius and thereby avoid the most catastrophic
impacts," said Coequyt. "However, this will require substantive
action by on the part of Congress in the United States."
Greenpeace is calling for global emissions to peak by 2020 and
fall rapidly thereafter ensuring at least a 50 percent reduction
from 1990 levels by the year 2050 globally, and eliminate fossil
fuel emissions before the end of the 21st century. This platform is
outlined in its 'Global Energy Scenario' which is available at:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/press/reports/energy-r-evolution-a-bluepr
Governments must begin negotiations towards these targets at the
UNFCCC Ministerial Climate Summit in Bali at the end of November
this year and agree to conclude these negotiations by the end of
2009 at the latest to ensure that the Kyoto Protocol can
continue.
(1) Key findings of the report indicate that:
*It is likely that climate change will induce the mass
extinction of species within 60-70 years and that the scale of risk
is larger than most of the five major extinction events that have
occurred in the earth's history;
* Over the next decades the number of people at risk of water
scarcity is likely to rise from tens of millions to billions.
Steadily decreasing water availability is projected for India and
other parts of South Asia and Africa and while the poorest parts of
the world will be hit the hardest, countries such as Australia and
nations in Southern Europe are also on the front line.
* Food production capacity will be significantly reduced in the
poorest parts of the world. , Within a few decades, it is likely
that wheat, maize and rice production will significantly decline in
India and China.
* Increased drought and water scarcity are likely to lead to
growing problems of hunger and human dislocation in Africa in
coming decades.
* The loss of glaciers in Asia, Latin America and Europe are set
to cause major water supply problems for a large fraction of the
world's population, as well as a massive increase in glacial lake
outburst floods and other risks for those living in the glaciated
mountains.
* A tremendous number of people will be at risk due to sea level
rise, storm surge and river flooding in the Asian Megadeltas such
as the Ganges-Brahmaputra (Bangladesh) and the Zhujiang (Pearl
River).
* Warming of more than another degree could commit the world to
multi-meter sea level rise over several centuries from the partial
or total loss of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets. Huge
coastal dislocation would result and could be triggered by
emissions made in the next several decades.
VVPR info: Contact: Jane Kochersperger, (202) 319-2493; (202) 680-3798, cell
Photos: http://usaphoto.greenpeace.org/media/climate/