Rochdale MEP sees effects of global warming first hand

Date published: 12/09/2006

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies has described evidence of the retreat of the world's glaciers as like "watching the tide go out".

Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesman in the European Parliament has just returned from discussions about climate change in Greenland.  The MEP was taken to the Ilulissat glacier, the largest in the Northern hemisphere flowing into the sea, and generating massive icebergs up to six miles in length.

He commented:  "The rockface scoured by the ice and now left bare by its retreat looks like a beach when the tide has gone out.  It was a very stark reminder of how fast global warming may now be taking place.  Temperatures are said to be rising in arctic zones at twice the rate of elsewhere."

Greenland's Icecap holds 10% of the worlds fresh water.  If it were to melt entirely sea levels would rise by 21ft, devastating London and low lying cities across the world.

Scientists fear that the influx of melting freshwater could reverse the flow of the Gulf Stream, fundamentally changing Britain's relatively mild maritime climate.