Blair "Shocked" By Climate Change - BBC

[hatrack]

"Tony Blair has said time is running out for tackling climate change.
The prime minister, speaking ahead of a major speech on the issue, said he had been shocked by scientists' warnings about the growth of the problem. He told BBC Radio 1: "We will start to notice within reasonably short periods of time real difficulties."

Environmental campaigners fear Mr Blair's speech on Tuesday evening will contain no firm policies to combat global warming. But media reports say he may call for measures to control aviation pollution.

EDIT

The prime minister is expected to respond by saying he wants to use Britain's presidency of the G8 next year to push the major industrialised nations towards environmentally sound policies. He will warn of forecasts that sea levels could rise by another 88cm by the end of the 21st Century, threatening 100 million people around the planet.

He will echo the government chief scientist's warnings that "unchecked climate change has the potential to be catastrophic in both human and economic terms". On Tuesday morning, Mr Blair told a private meeting with environmental professionals: "It's a huge issue but time is running out. "When I had my last presentation from government scientists on this I was shocked about how the speed of this is gathering."

EDIT

Gee, thanks for looking out the window, Tony.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3654042.stm

[LisaLynne]

1. Shocked!

Shocked, I tell you! Who's ever heard of this global warming stuff anyway? :eyes:

[wurzel]

2. I thought getting rid of Saddam already saved the world?

You mean we have other problems?

[donco6]

3. Let's see, they've only been screaming about it

since I was in high school.

And THAT's been a while.

[edbermac]

4. I'm sure Tony was "shocked" that there were no WMD's found in Iraq...

Ah Tony I was so happy when you defeated John Major so many years ago...how could you have let us down like this?



:cry:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Perhaps... since even the U.K. has common sense.... MoveOn.org

should put this link on Weather.com hompage....

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/environment/

it may not be proven yet... but anyone who even thinks this could be an issue... (hurricanes and global warming) would take a look... and while they are there... they might take a look at some of the other issues raised.... just a thought... but perhaps it's a good one.

I ask you... how many people visit www.weather.com several times a day??

I'm sure the numbers are available Moveon....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. I mean... if you can find this....

and this....



Why not a link to information that may have a direct impact on environmental issues that affect us all?

[otohara]

6. Will Poodle Be Shocked When Thousands of Iraqi

citizens, British soldiers show up with cancer from DU?

[phantom power]

7. Prepare for the real irritation: the next time we try to warn them,

they *still* won't listen. And they'll be equally "shocked" all over again.

[xchrom]

9. shocked?!?! where has tony been?

oh that's right -- up bush's ass.

[NNadir]

10. Is that Claude Blair or Tony Raines? Blair has to be one of the most

disappointing politicians of all time.

[PeaceForever]

11. It's nice to see Tony Blair growing a spine.

He fucked up big time with the Iraq disaster, but global warming is a far greater catastrophe, so hopefully he can redeem his ethical character here.