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Global Warming Bigger Threat than Terrorism: British Official By Hugh Biggar
February 14, 2004

SEATTLE- Sir David King, the science adviser to the British government, said global warming is a greater threat than international terrorism and called for greater global cooperation in reducing carbon dioxide emissions responsible for climate change.

"We're looking to our partners in the rest of the world," King said in a panel discussion held at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. At the same time, he stressed that Britain would not be passive. "We're not waiting for others to take action," he said.

Britain is one of 38 nations who ratified the 1997 Kyoto treaty. The treaty calls for a reduction in the industrial emissions generally believed to be responsible for climate-changing greenhouse gases. The Kyoto agreement requires nations to voluntarily reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and to implement other regulatory measures such as taxing industry.

Britain has been among the most aggressive nations in complying with the Kyoto treaty. According to King, Britain has committed to a 60 percent reduction in its emissions by 2050. So far, the nation has reduced its carbon dioxide pollutants by 13 percent compared to 1990s levels.

The United States is the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases, pollutants that contribute to warmer temperatures. King and other panel speakers were quick to criticize the Bush administration for its lack of action.

"I find it very troubling (that) our head is in the sand," said Harvard University scientist Daniel Schrag.

However, the Bush administration maintains more research needs to be done to determine the exact cause of global warming. In an interview with the Seattle Times Friday, the Bush administration's top science adviser, John Marburger, admitted global warming is a problem and an "international issue." However, he also said a different approach is called for. Rather than voluntary reductions in emissions and regulatory measures, this approach emphasizes investment in new technologies such as hydrogen fuel.

Contact Hugh Biggar at hbiggar at stanford.edu.

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