CNN Climate Change Report-an Interview with Dr Paul Toyne of Article 13

Climate change once again dominated the CNN morning news. Dr Paul Toyne was interviewed live by newsreader Monita Rajpal about the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (UNIPCC) release of its third report on recommendations on how the world can tackle climate change.

The report compiled by independent scientists across the world, and approved by the members of the UNIPCC, reported that whilst climate change cannot be stopped, the worst could be avoided if the temperature is held to a maximum of two degrees above the pre-industrial global temperature. For this to happen, the following measures (amongst others) need to be taken:

The world must:
1. Shift away from carbon intensive fuels like coal;
2. Invest in energy efficiency;
3. Reform the agriculture sector; and
4. Halt deforestation (forests absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it).

The report opens up the debate about the future use of nuclear energy as a low carbon energy source, suggesting that it could play an increasingly important role.

A wide ranging discussion between Monita and Paul occurred, where the role of governments, business and people was examined. Dr Toyne's main points where that the technology does exist, but better application was needed, together with a change in people's behaviour to achieve effective action. Costs of environmentally-friendly technologies like solar panels or hydrogen fuelled cars were still too high and people need an incentive to change.

However, the cost of not changing and dealing with climate change will be higher than the costs of addressing climate change today, a conclusion of the UK Treasury's Stern Report released late last year. Increased flooding, drought and impacts on farming and health will cause more disasters, Dr Toyne warned.

He concluded in many cases that businesses are acting faster than governments, citing Marks and Spencer’s Plan A, but in reality action – and action now – is required by business, governments and people.

The interview was repeated throughout the morning.

Copyright Article 13 – May 2007
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