NEWS RELEASE
Date: 11 December 2007
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UK Announces New Study on Climate Change Adaptation at Bali
Research to look at costs of adapting to climate change
The UK and Netherlands, together with the World Bank, today announced funding of up to £3 million (€4 million) for a new research study that will support developing countries to prepare for climate change.
The two governments will jointly fund the research study which will help developing countries understand the costs of adaptation and how to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The joint announcement by Netherlands Development Minister Bert Koenders, UK Environment Minister Phil Woolas and World Bank Director of Environment, Warren Evans, was made during a panel debate with Sir Nicholas Stern and other key climate change leaders at the UNFCCC climate change summit in Bali.
This study complements a regional review of the economic impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia. The regional review is being taken forward by the Asian Development Bank and governments from the region. The UK will contribute a further £450,000 for this study.
In making the announcement Bert Koenders said:
"There is no time left. We have to be crystal clear. Adaptation costs should be additional on the basis of the principle the polluter pays."
UK Environment Minister Phil Woolas said:
"No matter how successful we are in our efforts to prevent further climate change, we will feel increasing effects for many years to come.Climate change is affecting all countries and poor countries are being hit first and hit hardest.
Adaptation to climate change is vital. Any future climate deal needs to include adaptation to climate change as well as mitigation of it. But we also need to make sure that those countries least able to afford the unavoidable impacts of climate change are supported in planning for and managing those impacts. This World Bank work will make a significant contribution to that effort.
I am pleased that the UK is able to support the regional review of the economic impacts of climate change.The Stern Report released last year has provided a vital economic foundation for the UK’s climate policy and programmes. This study will help Southeast Asian countries identify cost and implement vital change policies now and avoid higher costs in the future”.
UK Trade and Development Minister Gareth Thomas said:
"Tackling poverty won’t succeed if development plans don’t take account of the potential long-term impacts of climate change. The studies launched today will help developing countries to identify and plan for these future risks, so that more people can be lifted out of poverty in years to come. The more developed a country is, the more it will be able to deal with natural disasters when they strike.
"The Stern Review told us that the costs of taking strong, early action against climate change would be substantially less than the costs of dealing with the damage it caused”.
The two-year adaptation study will be led by the World Bank. It will look at why adapting to the impacts of climate change is essential to development. It will help developing countries understand how to prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change and the costs involved in ensuring their development plans and goals can manage the impacts of a changing climate. The study will focus on six key countries and their experiences.
After the panel discussion Sir Nicholas Stern said of the new studies:
"Poor people will be hit hardest by the impacts of climate change. Urgent action is needed to help developing countries prepare for and adapt to climate change.
"It is vital we have a better understanding of the costs of developing climate-resilient development plans, including how to prioritise between different adaptation responses.
"Developing countries are increasingly understanding why they need to adapt. We now need to start thinking about what this looks like in practice, and how to ensure that development plans are sufficiently designed and budgeted for to both reduce poverty and build climate resilience. This study will help provide the tools and knowledge to enable this" .
Notes to editors
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Sir Nicholas Stern is the IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government at the London School of Economics (LSE) and head of the India Observatory based in LSE's Asia Research Centre. Professor Lord Stern is an internationally distinguished economist who led the Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change which focussed on the likely economic consequences of climate change for current and future generations.
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Press inquiries for UK and other International media please contact Penny Fox, Senior Press Officer of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at +62 819 085 30812
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Page last modified: 12 December 2007
Page published: 11 December 2007