'Radical changes' needed to combat global warming

'Radical changes' needed to combat global warming

An international approach to dealing with climate change is vital, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett has told a major UK conference.

Leading scientists from around the world are meeting in the UK this week to look at ways of tackling man-made environmental dangers.

Mrs Beckett said that further temperature rises over the next few decades were virtually unavoidable and that 'significant impacts' may occur as a result.

So radical action - beginning with the signing of the Kyoto protocol to cut carbon emissions - was essential to reduce emissions and avert the worst effects of climate change.

The assembled experts are examining how global warming is likely to affect different parts of the world and looking at ways of stabilising changes in the atmosphere.

Climate change is at the top of the UK's agenda during its G8 presidency. The Prime Minister announced that the conference would take place during a speech last September.

A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggested that 'there is strong evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.'

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