Chris Huhne speaks on Climate Change
4th August 2011 by Madlen King
The UK’s Energy and Climate Change secretary, Chris Huhne speaking at a series of events with UK Corporate Leaders Group, was very clear on the government’s position in relation to climate change and their ambitions for national commitments to limit GHG emissions.
On the Economics of Climate Change he addressed the government’s position on the opportunities presented by a low-carbon economy as a strong driver of economic growth, for resource efficiency and a reduced exposure to price shocks such as those related to oil prices.
He concluded strongly that: ‘We need a vibrant, new economy. One that is resource-efficient, that saves money and that boosts productivity. Where British innovation and research can deliver new success in engineering and manufacturing. With dynamic low-carbon markets driving the products and processes that will build the future.
There is no credible alternative.’
On the Geopolitics of Climate Change he addressed what it will mean for our world, and our way of life, if we do not stop temperature rising. Specifically raising the issues of Food, Water, Health and Security, Huhne highlighted:
- the impacts of changing temperatures and rainfall on crop distributions and crop yields;
- how 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions suffering absolute water scarcity which means not enough clean, accessible water to support lives and livelihoods;
- how climate change will affect the distribution of disease; and
- how climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’, making unstable states more unstable, poor nations poorer, inequality more pronounced, and conflict more likely.
And on the Science of Climate Change he stated emphatically that the basic science is clear, greenhouse gases warm the planet, global emissions continue to climb, and the world is warming up. Hence the need to ‘walk the walk, rebuild public and political support for action at home and abroad and come together to forge a new agreement on global emissions’.
Madlen King is the Global Head of Climate Change & Sustainability. She ensures the technical integrity of LRQA climate change and sustainability services and liaises with external bodies and governments on climate change. Within this role, Madlen is responsible for the service design, delivery and maintenance of accreditations for all GHG validation and verification schemes [...]