British Ambassador John Hawkins today unveils at the Embassy a “4 degree map” that highlights the impact of a global 4°C (7°F) rise in temperatures.

As British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband today launch the map at the London Science Museum, Ambassador Hawkins is pleased to be able to make a copy of the map available at the British Embassy in West Bay.

The UK’s world-famous Met Office Hadley Centre produced the map, which highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by 4 °C (7 °F) above the pre-industrial climate average. It shows that this average rise will not be spread uniformly across the globe.  The land will heat up more quickly than the sea, and high latitudes, particularly the Arctic, will have larger temperature increases.

The 4 degree map will be displayed for visitors to the Embassy’s reception and consular waiting area.

Ambassador Hawkins said: “The map is based on cutting edge scientific results. By displaying it in our Embassy we want to communicate the impact that climate change could have on all our future security and prosperity if we don’t keep the global temperature increase to 2 °C.”

Vicky Pope, Head of Climate Change Advice at the UK Met Office says: “If emissions continue at the current rate the global average temperature are likely to rise by 4 °C by the end of this century or even substantially earlier. The science tells us that this will have severe and widespread impacts in all parts of the world, so we need to take action now to reduce emissions to avoid water and food shortages in the future.”

Prof. Chris Rapley CBE, Director of the Science Museum and Professor of Climate Science at University College London said: “The map provides graphic evidence of the dramatic transformation of our world that a 4 degree global temperature rise would trigger. It leaves no doubt of the paramount importance of a successful outcome of the Copenhagen negotiations.”

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