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UK Environmental Report Warns of Global Warming Dangers

British economist, Sir Nicholas Stern, released a review on the current situation of the earth?s climate changes and warned that if nothing is done to tackle these changes, global economy could shrink by 20%. In his 700-page report, Stern also warned that there was overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming and its consequences could be disastrous. The main message of the report was that steps could still be taken to solve the problems, by investing now to prevent paying five times more in the future.

Stern?s review was released to coincide with a United Nations report on the issue, which clearly showed a rise in the emission of greenhouse gases. Sir Stern called for the international community to take immediate steps to confront these environmental problems and suggested that richer countries should do more to shoulder the responsibility. In response, the UK has announced that it will lead an international policy to deal with global climate changes.

The Stern Review warns that if no steps are taken almost immediately, melting glaciers could cause severe water shortages for as many as 1 in every 6 people on our planet and up to 40% of the world?s wildlife species could become extinct. UK Chancellor Gordon Brown, who commissioned the review, plans, among other things, to reduce Europe-wide emissions by 30% by the year 2020 and to work with Asian countries, particularly China, on clean coal technologies.