Report shows climate change is already having effect

3.16.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 6th Oct 2005

Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary speaking on the latest report from DEFRA said "This report is yet another piece of hard-hitting evidence that climate change has arrived and is beginning to have a major effect on the natural world."

The report shows that climate change could lead to the extinction of many animals including migratory birds. The report also details that that warming has already changed the migration routes of some birds and other animals, and identified melting ice, spreading deserts and the impact of warm seas on the sex of turtles as other potential threats.

Mr. Baker further said "We are fast approaching the crucial tipping point where, if we don't cut our greenhouse gas emissions, the effects will be irreversible. It is already too late for the many species which have died out as a result of mankind's remorseless exploitation of the planet."