Global Community must deploy low carbon technologies now says report

Low carbon ways of generating energy and heat and powering transport are already available, but the report, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), notes that without agreement on how to cut emissions globally, and the introduction of policies that can help put these technical solutions into practice, greenhouse gas emissions will increase by between 25 to 90% over the next two decades. The report also notes that postponing action to cut greenhouse gas emissions will make it more difficult and expensive to reduce emissions in the future, as well as creating higher risks of severe climate change impacts. Welcoming the new report, environment secretary David Miliband (pictured) said: “Last year, the Stern Review showed that we needed to act urgently to tackle climate change and that it was economically feasible to do so. The IPCC has today confirmed that finding - and that we have access to the technology we need to take that action. We simply can't afford any other option but to act, and to act now.” “We in the UK are also serious about meeting our own global responsibilities to cut emissions and recently published the draft Climate Change Bill, which will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050, and support us in becoming a low-carbon economy.” Trade and Industry secretary Alastair Darling added: “Over 20 trillion dollars needs to be spent globally on energy infrastructure like power plants over the next 25 years. Our aim is that this money is spent on technology that is low-carbon and not high-carbon.”