An official report by the Department of Trade and Industry say that the Earth's temperature will rise by up to 6 C by the end of the century. Compared to a rise of just 0.6 C during the whole of the twentieth century, it would be the most rapid rise in the Earth's temperature for 10,000 years.

　　Such an increase would mean vast habitat changes across Europe. Deserts would start encroaching along Europe's southern borders. British agriculture would be increasingly difficult to sustain as summer rainfall dropped. Across the world, 80 million people would be at severe risk of their homes and livelihoods being destroyed by flash flooding as sea levels, fed by melting icecaps, rise.