UK Climate Projections 2009 – planning for our future climate
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today announced the launch of the UK Climate Projections 2009; a groundbreaking, Defra-funded tool that will help us to understand how the UK’s climate will change during the 21st century.
The Met Office has used the latest climate science to develop the Projections, which show the probability of changes in temperature, rainfall, sea-level, humidity, cloud, and radiation.
Results are provided for three different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios – high, medium and low – and for seven time periods up to 2099. The information is freely available for everyone to use.
Hilary Benn said: “There is no doubt about it – climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world today. Climate change is already happening – the hottest ten years on record globally have all been since 1990. This landmark scientific evidence shows not only that we need to tackle the causes of climate change but also that we must deal with the consequences.
The Projections will allow us to make sure we have a resilient infrastructure to cope – whether it’s the design of school buildings or protection of new power plants, maintaining the supply of drinking water, adjusting ways of farming for drier summers or understanding how our homes and businesses will have to adapt”.
Ask Hilary Benn about the projections
Hilary Benn took part in a Number 10 webchat on 22 June at 09:45 BST - discussing the possible impacts of climate change in the UK and the Government's plans to adapt to the challenges it will cause.
Further information
You can find out more from:
Hilary Benn and Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, talk about the Climate Change Projections at the QEII conference centre - 18 June 2009
Page last modified: 22 June 2009
Page published: 18 June 2009