Nusa Dua - The past year has seen yet more weather records smashed as extreme weather events take a firmer hold of the planet, the World Wildlide Fund (WWF) announced Monday.
The overview from the global conservation organization, Breaking Records in 2007- Climate Change, shows record lows for sea ice cover in the Arctic, some of the worst forest fires ever seen and record floods.
Events like these show the urgent need to take decisive action on climate change, said Hans Verolme, Director of WWFs Global Climate Change Programme.
The Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, for instance, experienced torrential rainfall in February 2007 leading to some of the worst flooding in history. The flooding displaced 400,000 inhabitants, caused numerous outbreaks of disease and cost the economy US$450 million.
Its here and Indonesia is already suffering from the impact of global warming, said Fitrian Ardiansyah from WWF Indonesia.
The Indonesian government must lead the Bali summit towards a safer future.
Rich countries can show they are serious about stopping global warming in its tracks by committing in Bali to emission reductions of at least 30 percent by 2020, added Dr. Stephen Singer, head of WWFs European Climate Change Programme.
Source: www.budpar.go.id (5 Desember 2007)
