WWF issues warning on climate
Article Type: News From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 1, Issue 2
Global warming is accelerating at a faster pace than bleak predictions made by the IPCC last year, according to a report recently published by green group WWF.
The report is based on scientific data published since the IPCC issued its fourth assessment report. Global sea levels are expected to rise by more than twice IPCC forecasts, according to the report. In the Arctic, sea ice is disappearing up to 30 years ahead of predictions made by the international scientific panel. And natural carbon sinks such as forests and oceans are losing their ability to absorb CO2 faster than expected.
Authors urged the EU to commit to reducing its emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2020 without relying on Kyoto projects in developing countries to offset their emissions. Europe has pledged to adopt such a target in the event of a post-2012 climate treaty committing other industrialised countries to “comparable”cuts.
There had been fears European leaders would rein in their climate ambitions But, if Europe’s current 20 per cent target now seems secure, the commitment to a stricter goal if a global climate deal is agreed remains hypothetical. The report is available at: http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_science_paper_october_2008.pdf
