Mr. James Hughes at the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee

On February 11th, 2008. See this statement in context.

February 11th, 2008 / 4 p.m.

Deputy Director, Climate Change and Energy, Strategy and Public Sector Division, United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

James Hughes

Sure.

The IPCC report has provided us with evidence that clarifies that urgent action needs to be taken. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions stop tomorrow, we're already locked into about a further 0.6% Celsius warming over the next few decades. If we don't soon review stated current emissions projections, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are likely to reach 550 ppm CO₂ equivalent by around 2035. That would commit the world to at least a two-degree Celsius warming. As Ms. Pollard said, we need to see emissions peaking in 2020 and reductions between 60% and 80% by 2050.

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