Tuesday 15 March 2005

Jennifer Morgan, WWF International's Director of the Climate Change Programme, will tell ministers at the Energy and Environment Ministerial Roundtable that the consequences of inaction will hit the world's poorest people the hardest. For example, an increase in global temperature of around 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) would leave countries such as India, Africa and Mexico facing food and water security issues.

Morgan will urge ministers to commit to reducing CO₂ emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy and implementing energy efficiency measures. She will also stress the inextricable link between climate change and economic development.

Jennifer Morgan explained:

"Climate change is not just an environmental issue. If countries tackle global warming it will bring other benefits such as making their economies more competitive and reducing their dependency on foreign oil.

"We want ministers to decide on a common vision on how to tackle climate change. This generation of politicians is the last generation who have it in their power to secure the future of our planet, to safeguard the health and livelihoods of millions of people and the habitats that sustain their lives. History will not forgive them if they fail to act."

WWF has written to all participating ministers calling on them to work together to reduce the rate of global warming. In particular WWF is calling on countries to keep the average rise in global temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

On Monday (14 March) WWF issued a report which showed that many millions of people could face water shortages in the future because global warming has accelerated the retreat of the Himalayan glaciers.