Press Releases

Expert comment on draft climate change bill

Release Date : 13 March 2007

The Government will announce today its draft climate change bill aiming to cut UK greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by the year 2050.



Professor Julia Slingo, Acting Director of the Walker Institute at the University of Reading and Climate Director of the National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences said:



"The science is clear - climate change is here and it's likely to get worse. With this climate change bill the UK is giving an unambiguous message both at home and internationally that action is needed to deal with climate change.



"As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions to lessen potential impacts, the world will need to adapt to climate change. In the UK that could mean improving flood defences to cope with an increased risk of flooding or adapting our buildings and transport systems to cope with extreme heat.



"What businesses and governments require are more confident forecasts of local and regional changes in climate and extremes, not just for the 2050's but for 2010 or 2015. This is now the challenge for science and an area of active research at the University of Reading's Walker Institute. "

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For more information contact Lucy Ferguson, media realtions manager, University of Reading or Kathy Maskell, Communications manager, Walker Institute