York researchers call for tougher action on poverty and climate change
Posted on 25 October 2007
In a new UN report, scientists from the York Centre of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI-Y), based in the University’s Department of Biology, urge tougher action to combat poverty and on climate issues in a new UN report.
Adaptation to anticipated climate change is now a global priority
Dr Johan Kuylenstierna
The SEI-Y team are lead authors on a key chapter in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report released today. The UNEP Global Environment Outlook Report (GEO-4) is the most comprehensive UN study on environment, prepared by 390 experts and reviewed by more than 1,000 others across the world.
The GEO-4 report assesses the current state of the global atmosphere, land, water and biodiversity as well as describing changes since 1987 and identifying priorities for action.
It states that major threats to the planet including climate change and the challenge of feeding a growing population put humanity at risk.
Dr Johan Kuylenstierna, who is Director of SEI-Y, is co-ordinating lead author on the report’s chapter on Atmosphere, while SEI-Y colleagues Professor Mike Ashmore, Dr Dieter Schwela, Isabel (Bingyan) Wang are among the leading authors.
Dr Kuylenstierna warns that the current climate changes will lead to potentially massive consequences, especially for the most vulnerable, poor and disadvantaged people on the planet.
"Major changes are projected for regions, such as Africa, that are least able to cope," he says. "Sea-level rise threatens millions of people in coastal regions and the very existence of small island states. Adaptation to anticipated climate change is now a global priority. The solutions are drastic steps to reduce emissions from energy, transport, forest and agricultural sectors."
Furthermore, more than two million people globally are estimated to die prematurely each year due to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Dr Kuylenstierna adds: "Although air quality has improved dramatically in some cities, many areas still suffer from excessive air pollution. Many people, especially in Asia where the most polluted cities are now found, still suffer from very high levels of pollutants in the air they breathe, particularly from very fine particulate matter, the main air pollutant affecting human health."
But the report states that the future for the environment and development issues is not entirely gloomy.
It concludes that although emissions of ozone-depleting substances have decreased over the last 20 years, the ozone layer over the Antarctic will not fully recover until between 2060 and 2075, assuming full compliance with the Montreal Protocol. Johan Kuylenstierna says: "This is one of the most successful multilateral environmental agreements in existence and will effectively deal with the problem. Without this precautionary action, the consequences would have been disastrous."
Achim Steiner, UN Under-secretary General and UNEP Executive Director says: "The international community’s response to the Brundtland Commission has in some cases been courageous and inspiring. But all too often it has been slow and at a pace and scale that fails to respond to or recognize the magnitude of the challenges facing the people and the environment of the planet".
GEO-4 also warns that we are living far beyond our means. The human population is now so large the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About the University of York
The University of York, founded in 1963, has over 11,000 students, 3,000 staff and more than 30 academic departments and research centres. From its inception, the University has concentrated on teaching and research of the highest quality.The University has ambitious plans for growth. This includes plans for a 50 per cent growth in student numbers — much of it focused on postgraduate and international students — and significant research expansion. York intends to remain one of Britain’s leading research-intensive universities, and to develop its global reputation. More information at www.york.ac.uk
About the Stockholm Environment Institute
SEI is an independent, international research institute specializing in sustainable development and environment issues. It works at local, national, regional and global policy levels. The SEI research programmes aim to clarify the requirements, strategies and policies for a transition to sustainability. The SEI York Centre is one of 6 centres worldwide with headquarters located in Stockholm.