Tuesday 25th January 2005
Exeter hosts climate change conference | |
|  | | Burrator Reservoir with no water, exposing old bridges |
| | An international conference on climate change is taking place at the Met Office in Exeter. Scientists from around the world will be attending the three day event. |
| | | Devon is to host an international conference on climate change.
It aims to encourage an international scientific debate on the long-term implications of climate change.
The meeting of scientists takes place at the Met Office in Exeter from 1st to 3rd February.
The conference will focus on how much the temperature can rise before the world faces catastrophic consequences.
It comes amid growing evidence that the weather is becoming more unpredictable and extreme.
The Prime Minister Tony Blair formally announced the conference during his speech on climate change to business leaders in September 2004.
The conference, at Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research based at the Met Office, coincides with the start of the UK's presidency of the G8.
Mr Blair said the effects of climate change would be felt within a generation unless action was taken.
 | | The Cornish village of Boscastle was devastated by flooding in August 2004. |
In his speech he said the world's richest nations had a responsibility to "lead the way".
He has pledged that Britain will argue for aviation emissions to be brought in to EU emissions trading scheme.
In 2003 reservoir levels in Devon were low after a long spell of hot, dry weather. And last year, towns and villages across the South West - including Boscastle in Cornwall and Beer in Devon - were hit by summer flooding.
News of the conference was welcomed by Devon County Council.
Councillor David Morrish, the authority's Executive Member for Environment said: "The county council takes the threat of climate change very seriously.
"It is leading the way by appointing a highly qualified Climate Change Officer and producing an action plan which will address how we can best protect ourselves, businesses and local communities, and adapt to limit the problems associated with the Earth's rising temperature.
"Climate change may be a global problem but the solution is local. We have already done much to reduce waste but there is more work which needs to be done.
 | | Torrential downpours in August 2004 hit many areas, including Plymouth |
"Recently the county council signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change which requires councils to develop an action plan together with local communities to address the causes and effects of climate change.
"We are committed to delivering this and contributing to the UK climate change programme."
He added: "We hope that the county can take the opportunity to inform influential scientists from across the globe of the work that is being undertaken locally to reduce the impact now and for future generations."
The appointment of Ian Bateman as Devon County Council's Climate Change Officer is only the second such post to be made by a local authority in the country.
"Climate change is not something that is going to dramatically happen overnight, it is something that is happening now," he said.
"If we don't make small changes now, in 30 years time we will experience dangerous climate change on a much larger scale.
"Almost every aspect of the work of the county council has significance for the future of our climate and we are developing a strategy to reduce our own emissions and make sure our services are adapted to anticipate climate hazards."
Article updated: 25th January 2005
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