Exeter hosts climate change conference
Around 200 experts from all corners of the Continent are expected for the Ensembles symposium at the Met Office.
They will be told the results of a five-year study into the effects of climate change on Europe.
It is being hailed as an important precursor to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month.
One of the major findings of the Ensembles team, which used data from 66 international institutes and was led by the Met Office’s Hadley Centre, was that Europe needs to be carbon neutral by the end of the century if a global temperature rise of two degrees C is to be avoided.
Anything below a two-degree rise is generally thought to be manageable.
John Mitchell, director of climate science at the Met Office and Ensembles co-ordinator, said: “This latest research emphasises the necessity to make drastic cuts in emissions as quickly and as soon as possible if we are to avoid dangerous climate change, and highlights the importance of the negotiations that will take place in Copenhagen in December.”
Dan Norris, Minister for Rural Affairs and Environment, said: “The revolutionary UK Climate Projections 2009 that we launched last summer, based on Met Office science, showed that not only do we need to tackle the causes of climate change but also that we must deal with the consequences. I’m delighted that the Met Office is hosting this symposium. It reinforces the leadership role that the UK and other member states are playing in international climate science and policy. Just as importantly, it’s a chance to take stock — to discuss the science that has been developed, advances made, and to look at the priorities and the next set of questions we need to address.”
Met Office spokeswoman Helen Chivers said there were several other important findings which would be up for discussion at the three-day symposium, which opens tomorrow.
“Climate change has widespread implications for the way we live,” she said.
“The report will show that while there might be a rise of two degrees globally, some parts of northern Europe may see temperature rises of four degrees.
“Temperature rises would affect the incidence of heat stress during summer in Greece, for example, and Scandinavia could see heavier rainfall in winter, with drier summers.”
She said temperature fluctuations would also affect the spread of diseases in humans and animals.
Tomorrow delegates will attend a presentation of results of direct relevance to decision-makers, including extreme climate events this century and climate change impacts in the health sector.
On Wednesday climate change modelling will be the main topic up for discussion and on Thursday the physical impact of climate change in Europe will be among topics.
The conference has been hailed as a shot in the arm for the hotel and leisure industry at what is one of the quietest times of year.
Malcolm Bell, of South West Tourism, said: “Mid November really is one of the low points of the year for the hotel industry because you have yet to see the Christmas trade. This is a wonderful boost.”
He urged the delegates to spend their spare time visiting attractions in and around Exeter: “It would also be great if some of them were to stay at some of the smaller hotels to spread the benefit,” he added
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