Climate change is a global problem, with global causes and effects. Preventing dangerous man-made climate change and dealing with the impacts that cannot now be avoided requires efforts by all countries, consistent with their responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions, their capacity to take action, and the effects they will experience. The Government believes that climate change is the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today. There is strong evidence that climate change is happening and that man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are its main cause. The ten warmest years globally since formal records began in 1861 have all occurred since 1994. If left unchecked global average temperatures could be as much as 5ºC higher by the end of this century, with a devastating impact on our economy and natural world – in the UK and, above all, in the most vulnerable developing countries.
Globally, forest ecosystems play a key role in addressing climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in growing vegetation and soil. Deforestation caused by the unsustainable harvesting of timber and the conversion of forests to other land-uses leads to significant emissions of this stored carbon back to the atmosphere. Deforestation alone currently accounts for 18% of global emissions of carbon dioxide. Forests and woodlands can also be managed as a sustainable source of wood – an alternative and less polluting energy source to fossil fuels, and a low-energy construction material.
Although they cover a small area, the forests and woodlands in Britain have a role to play too, and the work of the Forestry Commission makes a difference. There are six key actions that should be taken now to protect what we have, and to make sure we can adapt to the new threats and opportunities that climate change will bring while still maintaining and expanding a sustainable forest and woodland resource.
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