Ignoring global warming will have huge costs for Canadians and the global economy

The review, presented today by UK Treasury Minister Gordon Brown and the lead author, former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern, makes a clear economic case for immediate action against global warming. In Sir Nicolas’s words, “The costs of stabilizing the climate are significant but manageable; delay would be dangerous and much more costly.”

“The Stern Review is a wake up call. Failing to take action now will devastate our living planet,” says Julia Langer, Director of WWF-Canada’s Global Threats Program. “From Canada’s melting Arctic to dying coral reefs, nature is the canary in the coal mine. Now that it is clear the world’s economy will also receive a major blow, governments and industry must get serious about reducing fossil fuel pollution.”

WWF-Canada urges the Canadian government to deliver on its international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, and to work proactively with 188 other governments meeting next week in Nairobi towards a ‘Kyoto-plus’ treaty to follow the first round of greenhouse gas reductions after 2012. To avert dangerous and irreversible global warming, emissions must peak within 10 to 15 years and decline by at least 80% in developed countries by mid-century.

“The world can still prevent climate and weather changes from spinning out of control, but the window of opportunity is rapidly closing,” says Langer. “There is no lack of ways and means to reduce emissions, only a lack of will.”

Last week, WWF-Canada co-hosted the Business of Climate Change conference which concluded that the risks of global warming are large, but the opportunities commensurate. WWF-Canada also launched a national public awareness campaign last week with the tag line “Ignoring global warming won’t make it go away.” The campaign is supported by national print, TV, radio and online advertising, which directs people to saveourclimate.ca to find out how they can help.