Global Climate Emergency

Transcript:

Hello to you. Thousands of scientists from around the world have endorsed a study based on 40 years of research that says the planet is facing an accelerating, global, climate emergency. The group of around 11,000 scientists says governments are failing to address the crisis and without deep and lasting changes there will be untold human suffering. Gareth Barlow has the story:

Wildfires in the United States, floods in Somalia, droughts in the Andes, typhoons in Asia; symptoms and signs of a changing climate. A climate emergency according to 11,000 scientists. They've backed a report based on 40 years of data which says humans are facing untold suffering amid a climate emergency caused by issues such as booming populations, a rise in air travel and tree numbers falling as forests are felled.

"Our planet is in crisis. You know it. We know it..."

Climate change is a key social and political issue and the report's authors say governments, businesses and the public must do more to tackle the causes of climate change.

"Extinction - Rebellion. Extinction...."

And it notes the growing global protest movement does offer hope. But as scientists warn of the changing climate on Monday Donald Trump began the formal process of withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, the landmark agreement meant to curb a rise in temperatures.

"I announce the withdrawal of the United States from the horrible, costly, one-sided Paris Climate Accord."
The issues aren't just political. The report's signatories say diets must change, population growth must reduce and the reliance on fossil fuels must end. Big solutions to fix and even bigger issue. Gareth Barlow, BBC News.