Climate report a 'landmark'

The Stern report has "demolished the last remaining arguments for inaction" over climate change, Tony Blair has said.

Speaking at the launch of Sir Nicholas Stern's study of the economic impact of global warming, the prime minister said it was essential Britain try to influence global action to prevent consequences which could be both "disastrous" and "irreversible".

"There's nothing more serious, more urgent, more demanding of leadership - here of course, but also in the global community," he said.

Pointing out that the UK produced only two per cent of worldwide emissions, he said the issues was "the definition of global interdependence".

He said the report, a "landmark in the struggle against climate change", proved the economic benefits of "strong, early action well outweigh any costs".

He said dealing with climate change now would cost one per cent of world output, while inaction could cost between five and 20 per cent.

The prime minister said the world could not wait five years to negotiate the Kyoto agreements on carbon emissions.

"In the UK we have exposed the false choice between the economy and the environment," he said.

"We have to be bolder at home, in Europe and internationally," he said.

Writing in the Sun ahead of the report's publication, the prime minister said that countries including the US, China and India should now act on global warming.

"Climate change won't just affect hot countries or those in the developing world - it will affect us all," he wrote.

"The report is clear: We are heading towards catastrophic tipping points in our climate unless we act.

"We need a concerted global effort from governments, scientists and businesses and a massive injection of funding, to create a technology revolution that vastly reduces the energy we use, and improves solar panels and other renewable energy."

But the prime minister said little on whether higher green taxes would be introduced in the UK.

"While more incentives may well have a role to play, this is a problem which will be solved at a global, not domestic level," he said.