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GENEVA / CLIMATE CHANGE
STORY: GENEVA / CLIMATE CHANGE
TRT: 1.53
SOURCE: CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 29 NOVEMBER 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1.Wide shot, aerial view of the Palais des Nations
29 NOVEMBER 2011, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
3.Med shot, journalist
4.SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“During La Niña years temperatures tend to be significantly colder than during normal years and much colder than an El Niño year.”
5.Med shot, journalist
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“This is the warmest La Niña year on record. So, in other words despite the fact that we had La Niña, 2011 was still among the 10 warmest years.”
7.Med shot, photographer
8.SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“The cooling of La Niña is strongest over the near equatorial Pacific but it has an impact almost globally, it has an impact on many parts of the world. So, please keep that in mind. Despite La Niña it was a very, very warm year.”
9.Med shot, journalists
10.SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“Many parts of the world saw extremely warm temperatures. For example, over Russia, in particular over the northern part of Russia, it was more than 3 to 4 degrees above average in a number of places, so extremely warm temperature.”
11.Med shot, journalists
12.SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“The ice in the Arctic continues to melt. In 2011 it was not the record, but it was the second lowest extent of ice in the Arctic. Although it is somewhat more difficult to measure, it was most likely the smallest volume of ice in the Arctic.”
13.Med shot, journalist at computer
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said today that the Earth's surface is continuing to get warmer despite non-record temperatures this year, but continued warming was masked by cooling La Niña conditions.
New figures put 2011 as only the 10th warmest on record, but the WMO says it has been hotter than any previous year on record that experienced La Niña conditions, when relatively cold water at the surface of the eastern Pacific Ocean reduces the average temperature in the atmosphere.
Michel Jarraud, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization told reporters in Geneva explained the phenomenon.
SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“During La Niña years temperatures tend to be significantly colder than during normal years and much colder than an El Niño year.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“This is the warmest La Niña year on record. So, in other words despite the fact that we had La Niña, 2011 was still among the 10 warmest years.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“The cooling of La Niña is strongest over the near equatorial Pacific but it has an impact almost globally, it has an impact on many parts of the world. So, please keep that in mind. Despite La Niña it was a very, very warm year.”
This year's La Niña conditions were also associated with droughts in East Africa, Pacific islands and the southern US, and flooding in southern Africa, eastern Australia and southern Asia.
SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“Many parts of the world saw extremely warm temperatures. For example, over Russia, in particular over the northern part of Russia, it was more than 3 to 4 degrees above average in a number of places, so extremely warm temperature.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Jarraud, Secretary General World Meteorological Organization:
“The ice in the Arctic continues to melt. In 2011 it was not the record, but it was the second lowest extent of ice in the Arctic. Although it is somewhat more difficult to measure, it was most likely the smallest volume of ice in the Arctic.”
Jarraud also warned that concentrations of greenhouse gases were rapidly approaching levels consistent with a 2.0-2.4C rise in average global temperatures, which scientists believe could trigger far-reaching and irreversible changes, and beyond which climate change is likely to be unstoppable.
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