Radio
Scotland climate change report - Fresh Air illuminates
dangers from chemical gases
Unpredictable
flooding, wild fluctuations in temperature and a shifting of the
seasons - are these clear indications of climate change or just
a temporary blip in our weather?
Using
new research commissioned by 大象传媒 Scotland, Mark Stephen presents
a special six-part series of Fresh Air and discovers
what is happening to our climate and how it could dramatically alter
our lives.
There
is a plethora of scientific data relating to climate change but,
until now, no-one has brought it all together making it digestible
for non-scientists.
As
part of the series, Radio Scotland commissioned a report that separates
fact from fiction and determines the implications of climate change.
The
report, After the Flood, makes it clear that climatic change is
already happening, that these changes are human induced and there
is general scientific agreement that even if we cut emissions now,
change will continue. However, we can take measures to slow down
the pace of change.
Fresh
Air exposes the effects climate change will have on all of our lives:
scientists predict that Scotland will become warmer, with wetter
winters and drier summers. Flooding is expected to be a major consequence
with a 40 per cent anticipated rise in winter rainfall levels putting
one in every 12.5 houses in Scotland at risk.
Scotland's
coastal and inland housing stock will be increasingly effected making
it almost impossible for owners to find insurance against flooding
and storm damage.
In
addition to environmental problems, climate change is expected to
have damaging social and economic repercussions: water quality is
threatened by both drought and flooding; Scotland's transport services
face disruption from flooding and high winds; the likely impact
on health is an increase in respiratory problems, disease transmitted
by micro-organisms and insects, not to mention the risk flooding
presents.
Tourism
in Scotland could suffer with an expansion of the midge population,
waterlogging of golf courses and football pitches. The skiing industry
will be decimated if, as predicted, snowfall in the Highlands and
the west of Scotland decreases by 40-60 per cent, with a 90 per
cent fall predicted for the east of Scotland.
Throughout
the series, Mark also examines what we, as individuals, can do to
conserve energy and reduce levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Fresh
Air is produced by Triple Echo Productions and runs for
six weeks on Radio Scotland, beginning on Wednesday 19 February
at 11.30am. The series is repeated on Thursdays at 10.30pm.
After
the Flood was written by Laughton Johnston, now retired from the
Scottish National Heritage. Professor Fred Robinson, University
of Durham, was the advisor and policy analyst for the report.
Notes
to Editors
A
copy of the report and the first episode of Fresh Air is available
from the 大象传媒 Scotland Press Office.
All the
大象传媒's digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
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offers the 大象传媒's eight television channels - including 大象传媒 THREE
- as well as six 大象传媒 radio networks.
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