CLIMATE CHANGE COULD BRING EVEN MORE HEATWAVE DEATHS - HUHNE

2.02.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Jul 2006

With temperatures across the UK predicted to hit record levels today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary and Eastleigh MP, Chris Huhne MP, said:

"During the last heatwave in August 2003 there were 2,000 additional deaths due to a combination of poor air quality caused by high levels of ozone and particulates, and from heat exhaustion.

"This problem is likely to get worse with predicted rises in road traffic and the impact of rising summer temperatures that may result from climate change. This is a major public health issue that the Government should address with great urgency."

Research from the Liberal Democrats has revealed that these high temperatures are only part of a worrying set of environmental statistics including:

• 4 out of the 5 hottest years in the 330-year Central England temperature record occurred in the last 10 years.

• Almost 24,000 premature deaths have been caused by smog since 1997.

• Average ozone levels have risen from 49 micrograms per cubic metre in 1997 to 59 in 2005.

ENDS