British High Commissioner Louise Stanton presented Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, the Hon. George Pullicino with a map illustrating the global consequences of a 4°C rise in  average global temperature due to climate change.

The map was launched at the Science Museum in London by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, and clearly illustrates some of the human impact of a global 4°C rise in temperature above pre-industrial levels, if climate change remains unmitigated. The map, produced by the Met Office Hadley Centre using cutting edge scientific results, has been launched ahead of December’s climate change negotiations in Copenhagen and shows how this is an issue which will affect everyone.

The UK Government is aiming for an agreement in Copenhagen next month that limits the effects of climate change as far as possible to a rise in global temperature of 2°C.  Increases of more than 2°C will have huge impacts on the world including a shift in mass migration and even loss of livelihoods. In Europe for example, we will suffer the effects of increased water scarcity, more frequent and intense droughts and forest fires.  Countries like Malta with already warm climates, will suffer greatly as the hottest days across Europe could be as much as 8°C warmer. Malta would also be badly affected if droughts occur twice as frequently in the Mediterranean basin.

British High Commissioner Louise Stanton explaing the 4 Degree Map to Resources Minister George Pullicino

British High Commissioner Louise Stanton stated that “Science is telling us loud and clear that we have to stop climate change.  If we don’t act immediately, this map will become a start reality by 2060. This is a global problem that requires a global solution. The stakes couldn’t be any higher at Copenhagen: failure is not an option, we need to take action now to reduce carbon emissions and minimise the risk of the very severest impacts.”

Minister Pullicino thanked the High Commissioner for the presentation of this climate change map and congratulated the High Commission for the valuable work that it is carrying out in the sphere of climate change and in educating the Maltese public on such an important issue. Minister George Pullicino promised that the information illustrated in the climate change map would be divulged among the general public in particular school children.

The Minister also referred to the ongoing international climate change negotiations and expressed his optimism that notwithstanding the numerous hurdles, a satisfactory international agreement that will replace the Kyoto protocol can be agreed upon in Copenhagen this December.

Notes for Editors

Further information on the science of the map can be found at http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/content/en/embeds/flash/4-degrees-large-map-final

The online version of the 4 degree world map provides an interactive web tool which allows the user to focus on certain impacts, geographies and access more information about the science behind the map. The map is available to be embedded on any website and the embed code can be accessed at www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/4degrees . This poster highlights some of the human impacts that may occur if the global average-temperature rises by 4 degree C above the pre-industrial climate average.
 

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