GLOBAL WARMING - no time to lose October 95

An international body of 2,500 leading scientists is warning that the planet is heating up - now - and that human activities are the likely cause. If our governments don't take firm action soon, the effects could be devastating.

'Global warming' is caused by a buildup of gases in the earth's atmosphere, which trap the sun's energy and cause the planet to heat up. These 'greenhouse gases' - mainly carbon dioxide - are chiefly produced by the burning of oil, coal and gas, and the destrction of forests.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is made up of 2,500 scientists from many nations. Their new draft report confirms that global warming has begun and could devastate the planet.

Global warming, says the report, will have "potentially irreversible" effects, including "loss of habitat, increases in human diseases and loss of life."

The IPCC says the earth could heat up by as much as 3.5 degrees C. This may not sound much, but it would mean the most severe climate change for hundreds of thousands of years. During the last ice age the planet was only 3 - 5 degrees C colder than today.

The IPCC report warns that global warming could lead to worldwide disaster.

We could see devastating weather effects - storms, droughts, floods - all over the world, damaging food-producing regions, and bringing "the prospect of increases in hunger and famine." A rapid temperature rise would destroy entire ecosystems - "entire forest tpes may disappear" - and "some species could become extinct, because their habitats will disappear." Deserts would become "more extreme", and the melting of icecaps and glaciers would raise sea levels, flooding coastal towns and low-lying countries.

Despite these frightening predictions, many governments are still resisting calls for action.

At the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (the international body of all the governments who signed the Climate Change Convention at the 1992 Earth Summit) in Berlin last March, proposals for strong action were on th table. But some industrialized nations refused to agree to serious measures, and some oil producing nations argued that global warming wasn't even happening.

After the Berlin conference, a working group in which all countries that have signed the Convention can participate is considering next steps. It is vital that all developed nations agree as soon as possible to at least a 20% cut in their emissions of 'geenhouse gases' by 2005. This will still not be enough - the IPCC says a 60% cut is needed just to stabilise greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - but it will be a start.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Please write a letter to one of your representatives in your national parliament or congress. Point out that the latest IPCC report states that global warming is happening now, and that scientists are calling for urgent action. Specifically, ask your reprsentatives to:

(In North America, Europe and Japan:) Urge the government to ensure your country honours the commitment it made in the 1992 Climate Change Convention, to reduce its emissions of 'greenhouse gases' to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

(For all countries) Urge the government to press, in the working group that was launched at the Berlin Conference, for all developed countries to further cut their emissions of greenhouses gases by 20% below 1990 levels, by 2005. This has been proposed y the Alliance of Small Island States.

Ask the government what steps are being taken to reduce or contain emissions of greenhouse gases, including increased investment in renewable energy, energy conservation and public transport.

If possible, please also write a letter to the editor of a newspaper on this issue.

SAMPLE LETTER TO MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OR CONGRESS

Dear _________,

I have been very concerned to hear of the recent report from the 2,500 scientists in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, saying that global warming has almost certainly begun.

As you know, the scientists are warning of devastating weather effects - storms, droughts and floods - all over the world, damaging food-producing regions and bringing "the prospect of increases in hunger and famine." They are warning of disappearing habitat, increased desertification, and the flooding of low-lying lands as ice-caps and glaciers melt. There can be little doubt that climate change presents one of the most serious threats to the security of our nation, and of all nations.

In light of this new report, I urge you to press the government to work in the ongoing negotiations for an initial 20% cut in emissions of greenhouse gases from developed nations by 2005, as proposed by the Alliance Of Small Island States.

Also, in view of our commitment in the Climate Convention to seek ways to minimize our greenhouse gas emissions, please ask - in parliament or in a letter to the appropriate minister - what steps the government is taking to increase investment in renewabe energy, energy conservation and public transport, and what effects the government expects that these steps will have on our country's greenhouse gas emissions.

(In North America, Europe and Japan:) Finally, I would like to encourage you to ask the government for the latest information regarding whether we are on track to meet the commitment we made in the Climate Change Convention to return our country's emissins of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000, and if not, what additional steps is the government considering in order to meet the target?

Many thanks. I would be very grateful if you would let me know what response you receive from the government.

Sincerely,