Climate Change in the North West
| Published: 15th August 2008 22:13 |
Climate change is now front page news.
The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, described it as "the most serious problem we are facing today". The damage to the environment caused by greenhouse gas emissions, around three-quarters of which is carbon dioxide, has become increasingly apparent, and the need to take action therefore all the more urgent.
The North West, which is one of the UK's major producers and consumers of energy, is responsible for a significant level of carbon dioxide emissions. By 2080 the region could see:
1-4°C average annual temperature increase
15-50% decrease in summer rainfall
7-67cm increase in sea level
Changes of this magnitude would have fundamental implications for our environment, economy, lifestyle and health. There is, however, still time to act, and the Stern Review in 2006 established that, in the long run, tackling the problem today will be much less expensive than doing nothing at all.
This is a fast moving area of work, with rapid development of policy and action across central and regional government.
Click here to find out more about national and local policies to tackle the issue of climate change and action that the Government Office for the North West is taking.
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