Just a quick glance through the past month's newspapers will show that climate change and global warming have become a hot topic (excuse the pun!). With the exception of the very unfortunate and serious outbreak of avian influenza climate change has seized the headlines in the press and TV news. Why is this? Did Al Gore's film “An Inconvenient Truth” released towards the end of 2006 (the DVD version was released on Boxing Day) stir the public? Probably not! It was a film with an important message but never destined to get an Oscar!

It was the Stern Review: “The Economics of Climate Change” that made the difference. In Sir Nicholas's report, which is available from a variety of sources including Amazon.co.uk, the physical impacts of climate change on economic activity, human life and on the environment are considered. In depth analysis of climate change models and their predictions has been undertaken. Stern has then undertaken an economic analysis of cutting our current trend in increasing CO2 emissions so that atmospheric concentration stabilizes at 550ppm (parts per million) CO2. This cost is estimated to be, on an annual basis, around 1% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 2050. Can we afford this? Probably the question we should ask is “can we NOT afford this?”.

What has happened since Sir Nicholas's report was published is that climate change has appeared top of the agenda for government and industry. Very recently the UK Government has announced that it wants climate change to be on the national curriculum in schools. Industry and commerce has also responded rapidly. Both Marks and Spencer and Tesco have announced major programmes of investment to make their operations carbon neutral. No doubt with this very important lead other retailers will follow. Suddenly 'carbon neutrality' has become commercially trendy. What is somewhat frustrating is that it took an economist to get this message over…. Scientists were rather ignored! Importantly, the message is 'out there' and in the media.

Since the publication of the Stern report there has been another milestone in the climate change story. This is the latest publication by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The latest report by the IPCC is available as a downloadable summary at www.IPCC.ch and is worthwhile reading to get the latest facts and figures from a team of several thousand scientists. The report 'Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis' is the contribution of Working Group I to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC. Further reports will include mitigation strategies and will be published later this year.

Since the third assessment report (TAR) the IPCC has been able to firm up on the various scientific models of climate change and have gained a higher degree of statistical confidence that Man has been the prime cause of climate change and global warming.

National FoE has declared that climate change is to be a major target of our activities and has included 'Climate' as aim 1 in its Strategic Plan which is currently out for consultation. National FoE's policy is to provide 'Solutions' for the public. South Gloucestershire FoE will support this. Already several members of our group have contributed to South Gloucestershire Council's climate change strategy. This strategy has now been adopted formally by both South Gloucestershire Council and Cabinet.

Now we have to ensure that the strategy is implemented. To this end we have two avenues of activity. First, we will have a representation at South Gloucestershire Council's LA21 Forum: local action on climate change. Secondly, we are proposing to run public events on 'Solutions to Climate Change'.

We welcome your ideas and suggestions. Perhaps you know a local event that we can join in. Please do let us know! You are very welcome to e-mail Stuart Shales at stuartshales@hotmail.com - we all need to join in this very important activity!

Stuart Shales

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