...A return flight to Australia by jumbo jet releases 4,095 tonnes of CO2 about 15 tonnes per person. If the polluter pays principle is applied this ould be an extra 280 per person on the ticket price. The cost of adapting to climate change could be relatively small compared ith the cost of doing nothing e.g. estimated cost of climate proofing buildings against subsidence - 32 million, estimated damage claims if no action taken - 300-400 million. An estimated 25 million people are displaced by environmental causes, more than double the 12 million political refugees. Beteen 1990 and 2002, UK emissions of greenhouse gases fell by one-eighth, emissions are forecast to be 23 belo 1990 levels by 2010. A slight increase in emissions in 2001 as linked to an increase in coal burning. The UKs emissions of carbon dioxide per person are less than half those of the USA and rank about mid-ay among European countries. It is committed to the 5th largest percentage cut in emissions in the EU and by 2000 as the third most successful in reducing emissions. All EU member states except the UK and Seden are set to miss their emissions targets. Only 3 of the UKs energy comes from reneable sources, less than one third of the ay toards the target of 10 by 2010. Sea levels may rise by as much as half a metre in the south east of England by 2080. If no alloance is made for climate change river flooding could increase by half and coastal flooding by four times. Six out of seven rivers ith long-term records sho an increase in frequency of peak river levels although only to of these are considered significant the River ye and the River Ivel near Bedford. 1,200 homes and businesses ere flooded in England and ales in the Ne Year of 2003. Five million people, 1.8 million homes, 185,000 businesses, including property, land and assets orth more than 200 billion are at risk of flooding. The annual spend on flood defences is some 0.5 billion 64 of all flood defences are in good condition or better. 72 of people in flood risk areas are no aare of this although feer than 1 in 10 people at risk have taken steps to prepare for flooding. Floodline, the Agencys flooding information service and 24 hour helpline, has received 1.4 million calls since its launch in 1999.Air quality Compared ith the 1960s there are no four times more cars, doing four times the mileage, but 20 modern cars produce the same amount of pollution as one 1960s car. In the UK, one-fifth of fine particles, one-quarter of CO2, and 44 of nitrogen oxides come from traffic, but this contribution is much higher in urban areas. Improvements in technology are reducing emissions from vehicles but greater car use is offsetting some of the gain. Journeys hen the engine is cold pollute up to 60 more than hen the engine is hot. In a 4km journey 80 of the emissions are during the first kilometre. Some people are more susceptible to air pollution than others. Vulnerable groups include the young and elderly, people ith respiratory problems and asthma sufferers. About one in ten of all people ho die each year may have died slightly early because of air pollution. In urban areas, days of poor air quality occur about once every to and a half eeks on average. Ten years ago the frequency as once every six days.i1s High ozone levels build up hen UK emissions are mixed ith polluted air masses from continental Europe. In August 2003 peak ozone concentrations in parts of England ere at their highest since 1990, and in September 2003 peak levels occurred at the latest in the year since 1985. The UK ranks mid-ay among European countries for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions per head but has achieved the fourth largest percentage reduction in sulphur dioxide and the largest reduction in nitrogen oxides beteen 1990 and 1999. The quantity of dioxins released from Agency-regulated processes has been reduced by 93 beteen 1990 and 2002. The ozone layer has been observed to thin at certain times of the year for the past 18 years. In August 2003 the Antarctic ozone hole as about 27 million km2, covering all of the Antarctic and reaching the tip of South America and the Falkland Island...
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