Today the IPCC published its long awaited report on climate change. This is the most comprehensive report on climate change ever, and leaves little doubt that greenhouse gases are causing the world to heat up. 95% of scientists now agree that humans are responsible for climate change.
The report tells us there is no doubt that sea levels have risen, snow and ice have diminished and the concentrations of Greenhouse gas have increased. It goes on to document that ice sheets have diminished and glaciers have continued to shrink.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader said, “We are burning fossil fuels like there is no tomorrow and this report tells us we must stop. It is essential that this ostrich government pulls its head out of the sand and moves quickly to implement progressive Green policies and drastically cut emissions. That means switching investment away from fossil fuels and moving it quickly to clean renewables to prevent further global warming.
The leader of the Wales Greens added “The Green Council in Brighton did not wait for this report to reduce emissions. They rolled up their sleeves and got right on with the job as soon as they were elected. 2 years later Brighton has become the world’s first One Planet City. The IPCC report tells us to act quickly, and if we do act quickly, most people will barely notice a difference in their lifestyles. But we must follow Brighton and act now.”
The IPCC is a small organisation, run from Geneva with a full time staff of 12. All the scientists who are involved with it do so on a voluntary basis, much like members of the Green Party.
The report has 840 main authors recruited from 38 of the IPCC's 195 member countries, with British and American scientists making the biggest contribution.
A total of 209 Lead Authors and 50 Review Editors from 39 countries and more than 600 Contributing Authors from 32 countries contributed to the preparation of Working Group.
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/sustainability-city/one-planet-city