Earlier this month the US journal Science published research showing that the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes worldwide has nearly doubled over the past 35 years, and that global sea surface temperatures have increased over the same period.
Last month a paper in Nature revealed that major storms in the Atlantic and Pacific since the 1970s have increased in intensity by about 50 per cent. And in an interview published today Sir John Lawton, chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, said "The increased intensity of these kinds of extreme storms is very likely to be due to global warming".
Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper, said "President Bush refuses to accept that the overwhelming body of scientific evidence warning of a grave climate change threat requires urgent action. Like a modern King Canute, the President insists that he will be immovable against the force of nature. The recent increased intensity of hurricances is most likely a consequence of human-induced climate change and his continuing denial of the problem is storing up even more serious problems for the future. It is time that the Bush Administration woke up in the real world and got serious about cutting the pollution that threatens the prosperity and stability of the entire planet".
The United States is responsible for a quarter of the world's carbon dioxide emissions (the principal greenhouse gas), yet it only has around four per cent of the world's population.
Subscribe
Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.
Posted on 11th October 2005
Latest Posts
-
Labour's plan for economic growth must mean green growth – but there is a green skills gap looming
- 5th July 2024 -
As Labour plans to “slash red tape” for economic growth, YouGov poll finds 3 in 5 people want to increase public involvement in planning system
- 28th June 2024 -
Medtronic agrees partnership with IEMA to accelerate skills and standards in sustainability
- 21st June 2024 -
Landmark climate impact ruling for fossil fuel projects, cites IEMA guidance
- 20th June 2024 -
IEMA sets out 18 policy asks for the next Government
- 3rd June 2024 -
New global alliance formed for 25,000 environment and sustainability professionals
- 29th May 2024