‘Temp likely to rise 3C by end of century’

London, Apr 14:
Britain's chief scientific adviser has said global temperatures are likely to rise by 3 degrees celsius by the end of the century, sharply increasing drought and water shortages.

In comments broadcast today, Sir David King told British Broadcasting Corp Radio that with an atmospheric carbon dioxide level of 550 parts per million - roughly double the level of the pre-industrial era - "the temperature rise could well be in excess of 3 degrees centigrade."

``And yet we're saying 550 parts per million in the atmosphere is probably the best we can achieve through global agreements,'' King said.

A higher level, he said, would bring "levels of temperature increase and sea level rises .. that would be extremely difficult for world populations to manage."

The UN-backed intergovernmental panel on climate change says temperatures rose by about 0.6 degrees celsius during the 20th century. Various computer models have predicted increases of between 1.4 degrees and 5.8 degrees celsius by the year 2100, depending on how much is dome to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

A British government report said a 3 degree increase would cause millions of tons of cereal crops to fail and put between 1.2 billion and 3 billion people at risk of water stress.

King called for major global efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change.

"We don't have to succumb to a state of despondency where we say there's nothing we can do so let's just carry on as per usual,'' King said. "It is very important to understand that we can manage the risks to our population."

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