Climate change report: UK faces scorching summers and floods

Britain will be drastically affected by climate change, with temperatures rising by as much as 2C by 2050, according to a new report. The UK Climate Projections 2009 study will outline changes to temperatures, rainfall and sea level in different parts of the country that could occur in the coming decades. Flooding, storms, droughts and heatwaves are all set to become more frequent as a result of rising temperatures. As a result, health, lifestyles and the countryside will be negatively affected. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn warned that some climate change was inevitable because of the greenhouse gases that have already been emitted into the atmosphere. The research looks at what might happen under different levels of emissions - high, medium and low - in the coming years. It is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) emissions scenarios and the potential impacts of greenhouse gases on the UK are expected to be worse than previously thought. Ahead of the publication of the research, environmentalists called for tougher action on emissions to avoid the "damaging impacts" the UK will face from climate change. Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins said: "This valuable new research will highlight the damaging impact that climate change will have around the UK and show the need for urgent action to cut emissions. "The UK Government must take tougher action on climate change - and show real leadership by example ahead of crucial climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December."

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ITN | June 18, 2009

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