Released in the run up to the G8 summit, this paper explains why global average temperature rise must be kept as far below 2°C as possible (from pre-industrial levels), based on a review of evidence of the impacts at different temperature ranges.
It explains how impacts on water resources, food production and ecosystems become catastrophic above that threshold, and how dangerous feedback mechanisms are much more likely to kick in, resulting in even faster warming.
Read the report (PDF 296K)
Spanish version (PDF 834K, produced by Intermón Oxfam)
This report is endorsed by the following agencies:
- A Rocha UK
- Action Aid UK
- Bread for All, Switzerland
- CAFOD
- Caring Heart, Uganda
- Christian Ecology Link, UK
- Climate Action Network Canada
- Columban Faith and Justice, UK
- David Suzuki Foundation, Canada
- Ecoequity
- Evangelical Association of Malawi
- Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia
- Friends of the Earth Australia
- Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Friends of the Earth International
- Greenpeace International
- GRIAN, Ireland
- HELIO International
- Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation, the Netherlands
- International Institute for Environment and Development
- International Rivers Network
- Jubilee Centre, Zambia
- Micah Challenge, DRC
- New Economics Foundation
- Norwegian Church Aid
- Oil Change International
- Progressio, UK
- Sustrans, UK
- Tear FUND New Zealand
- Tear Netherlands
- TERRA Mileniul III Foundation, Romania
- Women’s Institute, UK
- World Development Movement
- WWF Climate Change Programme