Commissioners urge climate-change action

Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard and International Co-operation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva have addressed the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report: Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate-change adaptation.

Commissioner Hedegaard said: "Last week, the serious warnings from the International Energy Agency. Today, this IPCC report. It goes without saying that this is yet another wake-up call.”

“With all the knowledge and rational arguments in favour of urgent climate action, it is frustrating to see that some governments do not show the political will to act,” Hedegaard added.

The report emphasised that the carbon emissions had reached a record level last year, underlining the current “inconsistency between what is happening and what should be happening” the commissioner said. She highlighted that the forthcoming summit in Durban will be another chance for leaders to act together and directed provocation to governments favouring postponing decisions: “For how long can you defend your inaction?"

Commissioner Georgieva said that the report serves as a timely reminder of the consequences of the rising tide of disasters provoked by the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather: “We have responded this year to floods in Pakistan, Thailand and Central America and the catastrophe in the Horn of Africa as a result of drought. At home in Europe we are also affected; witness the recent floods in Italy and Ireland,” she said.