We have heard how the developing world has done least to contribute to this problem and yet is paying the most for the climate change damage. What do you want to see the UK government and world governments do to support these developing communities?
One thing that has happened under the UN and the Kyoto Protocol us that they did establish some specific funds called adaptation funds to help them adapt to climate change but what's happened to some of them is that they have become bogged down in political negotiations and how they are going to work. A reasonable amount of money was pledged for the funds but actually not a lot has gone into them. So they are kind of trundling along but not a lot is happening. So one of the things is we want to see the UK government really take a lead and get those moving.
But also separately from that, for the UK Government and all other governments and especially donors like the World Bank within their own development work and what they are funding like water projects, is to think long term and think how is climate change going to affect this project and what do we need to do to account for that.
And that is something Tearfund and other development agencies are having to consider as well. So we really want them to make that a priority as well and it's something they've said they are going to do.
In the Commission for Africa report there was a recommendation that all donors consider climate risks within their climate funding. So that commitment is there again but we'd like to see more action in that perspective in terms of how they are doing it.
One representative of the World Economic Forum said action should have been taken 10 to 15 years ago. Is it all too little too late?
I think no. The thing with climate change is that we talk about tipping points and the point of return. And I think the truth is that we actually don't really know when that will be and what is going to happen. But we do know that the change is gradual and we've seen the number of disasters increase and we've seen a change in rainfall patterns. And I think that just shows us that to a certain extent there is stuff already happening that we can't do anything about. But because it is gradual and as more momentum builds in the climate system then the more we do now the less that will happen in the future.
To just throw our hands up in the air and say 'Well, that's it' would go against what most scientific evidence shows us and what most of the climate models say, that actually if we take strong action now then we can prevent the worst case scenario. So I definitely don't think we have gotten to that point where there is no hope.
