EU citizens most concerned with climate change

Less than a third of Americans share the same conviction. Fear of terrorism and continued Federal emphasis on Homeland Security seem to shift attention away from the imminent and potentially far more harmful effects of global warming. Said Nick Pidgeon, professor of psychology at Cardiff University: 'The debate in Europe is about what action needs to be taken, while many in the US still debate whether climate change is happening'.

The UK Meteorological Office predicted earlier this month that 2007 will be the hottest year in recorded history, with worldwide temperatures 0.54°C above the long-term average of 14.0°C. The “Met” estimates a 60% probability that 2007 will be equally warm as or warmer than 1998, currently the warmest year on record. Over the past seven years, the Met Office forecast of annual global temperature has proven to be remarkably precise with a mean forecast error of only 0.06°C.

A report issued by the European Commission warns that countries around the Mediterranean will be the first hit by detrimental economic effects of rising average temperatures. With warm summers a more common phenomenon in Northern Europe, the yearly influx of tourists to the south is expected to diminish. On a positive note, the report concludes that reduction of worldwide emissions by 25 percent by the year 2050 to match 1990 levels is feasible both technologically and economically.

For additional information:

http://www.novatris.com/

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/