UK’s chief scientist calls for ‘new and greener revolution’

A “new and greener revolution” is needed to feed the world in the face of the current food crisis, according to the UK’s chief scientist.

This revolution must not adopt the pillars of the previous Green revolution of the 1940s – such as breeding programmes and fossil fuels - which led to dramatic rises in cereal crop yields throughout the 1960s, Professor John Beddington warned.

Instead, he argued, there is a need for more agricultural production on less land, using less water and with prudent use of fertilisers and pesticides.

“Levels of atmospheric CO₂ are the highest they have been for 400,000 years,” said the UK Government’s Chief Science Adviser. “It is completely extraordinary to hear people still say that this is wrong and is not caused by humans.

“What we need is a new and greener revolution that will feed the world in a sustainable way.”

Professor Beddington was speaking at the last in a series of briefings on ‘Climate Change and the Commonwealth’. These discussions, held in Marlborough House, London, were organised by the Commonwealth Foundation in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“It was the voice of the people of the Commonwealth which brought about these briefings,” explained Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Foundation.

“The global threat of climate change was recognised by Commonwealth civil society organisations when they met in Malta in 2005 and called for a climate change action plan, which was subsequently endorsed by the Commonwealth’s Heads of Government in Kampala last year.”

This series of climate change briefings, he noted, is a direct response to this action plan, which called to strengthen the quality and participation levels at international negotiations on climate change.

Presentations during the briefing held on 9 July 2008 were also made from Madeleen Helmer, Head of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Centre; Ritu Kumar, a trustee of The Energy and Resources Institute; Stephanie Lynch, an 18-year-old student who champions key climate change messages; and Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith.

Among the topics they addressed were the humanitarian consequences of climate change; what can be done; and the role young people can play in these efforts.

HRH The Prince of Wales, who sat in on the panel discussion which concluded the briefing, told the audience that he feels one of the simplest, easiest and cheapest ways to buy time is “to sort out the problem of global deforestation”.

Describing forests as the “air-conditioning system of the world”, the Prince argued that if further deforestation is not stamped out, “we will have no chance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.

“Unless we put together a scheme that has integrated rural development programmes, we will lose a large part of the battle against climate change,” he added.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: United Kingdom
• Sustainability

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• Commonwealth Foundation