Map shows climate-change effects

A map illustrating the global consequences of failing to keep climate change to under 2

C has been launched by the government.

The map has been revealed ahead of international climate-change talks in Copenhagen this December.

The map - launched at the Science Museum by foreign secretary David Miliband, climate and energy secretary Ed Miliband and UK’s chief scientist John Beddington - was developed using the latest peer-reviewed science from the Met Office Hadley Centre and other leading scientists.

The map highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by 4^oC above the pre-industrial climate average.

Ahead of the Copenhagen talks, the government has called for an agreement that limits climate change as far as possible to 2^oC. According to some scientists, increases of more than 2^oC will have huge impacts on the world.

‘This map shows that the stakes couldn’t be any higher at the Copenhagen talks in December,’ said Ed Miliband at the map’s unveiling. ‘Britain’s scientists have helped to illustrate the catastrophic effects that will result if the world fails to limit the global temperature rise to 2^oC. With less than 50 days left before agreement must be reached, the UK’s going all out to persuade the world of the need to raise its ambitions so we get a deal that protects us from a 4^oC world.’