COMMUNICATING CHANGE

"The Stern report on climate change equips the chancellor with the case for a radical new approach to taxation " (Jackie Ashley6, The Guardian)

Today's aptly named Stern report on climate change is defensive.

At last we are at a turning point on climate change. David Miliband likens it to the wartime discussions which produced the Beveridge report and the welfare state. Certainly the shifts in tax, spending and behaviour will be at least as big, and probably bigger. There is one huge difference, though. That was about giving people something new.

GLOBAL WARMING

We have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through a buildup of greenhouse gase, primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Rising global temperatures will cause sea level to rise, alter local climate conditions-affecting forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It will affect human health, animals, and ecosystems.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW?

• Climate model simulations predict an increase in average surface air temperature of about 2.5°C by the year 2100 (Kattenberg et al., 1996).
• The likelihood of "killer" heat waves during the warm season will increase (Karl et al., 1997)
  The IPCC Second Assessment Report estimates that a sea-levels will rise by approximately 49 cm over the next 100 years, with a range of uncertainty of 20-86 cm.
• Sea-level rise will lead to increased coastal flooding through direct inundation and an increase in the base for storm surges, allowing flooding of larger areas and higher elevations.
• Further melting of the Arctic Ice Caps (at the current rate) could be sufficient to turn off the ocean currents that drive the Gulf Stream, which keeps Britain up to 6oC warmer than it would otherwise be.

http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1934944,00.html#article_continue

good article on spiked as well:http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/2039/