Position of climate sceptics now 'untenable' - Stern |
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Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:20
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PARIS AFX - Sir Nicholas Stern, author of a major report on the economic impact of global warming, said the latest review of the scientific evidence by United Nations experts had demolished the chief argument of so-called climate sceptics.'I have heard three kinds of argument claiming that it is not necessary to combat climate change. The first is based on saying that scientists are wrong,' Stern told a conference in Paris, hosted by French President Jacques Chirac.'After the report of the IPCC released today, this position is untenable,' said the former World Bank chief economist.The assessment by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said global warming was almost certainly caused by humans, and carbon pollution disgorged this century would disrupt the climate system for a thousand years to come.'To do nothing is to run a risk that we cannot afford to take,' said Stern, as he called for 'urgent, resolute and concerted' action in Europe and the international community as a whole to tackle the challenge.He also rejected the argument that - even accepting the science - mankind can easily cope with rising temperatures.'That is an irresponsible position, because it does not take into account the real risks linked to a very high rise in temperatures, for example in the case of a world where temperatures rise by five or six degrees.' Five or six degrees Celsius is nine to 10.8 Fahrenheit.Those who dismissed the consequences of global warming as a remote, long-term problem were 'indefensible from an ethical point of view,' he said.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/jagCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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