THE government's chief scientific adviser has praised the north west's robust stance in tackling climate change as an example for other regions to follow.
But Prof Sir David King said the urgency to "rise to the challenge" and to reduce greenhouse gas-causing emissions has never been greater.
He made his comments at the launch of the North West Climate Change Action Plan at the City of Manchester stadium.
The plan commits the region to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, through technological developments and education programmes.
Sir David said: "We are going to have to adapt to the climate change that lies ahead, region by region.
"For the first time, we have upset the balance of carbon on our planet and all regions must follow the example of the north west in attempting to resolve this.
Competition
"I hope this action plan will provoke competition between the regions to see who can best reduce their carbon emissions.
"Other countries around the world are now looking to Britain for leadership in tackling climate change."
Sir David said the country's future electricity needs should be provided by renewable energy and nuclear power as well as "clean" fossil fuels.
Northwest Development Agency chairman Bryan Gray said climate change is now a "make or break" issue for the region.
He said: "By working in partnership to deliver the action plan, the north west can ensure it becomes the UK's leading region for climate change activity.
"Over the next decade we've calculated that tackling climate change will be worth around é30 billion to British businesses."
James Smith, chairman of Shell UK, called for countries to agree a "carbon pathway" in the near future. This would mean that industry knew clearly what emissions were acceptable depending on location.
DOWNLOAD the action plan here...
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The way to help is car companies need to stop making very large gas guzzlers that spew large amounts of pollutants out .Its time that people bought cars to suit their needs ? i see women saying they need people carriers because they have two kids??why ??? this baffles me why not just get a car that has four seats and good fuel consumption ect.I see people going shopping with very large 4X4s with diesel engines that are poorly serviced and blowing black/blue smoke out of the exhausts?After all a car is just transport and a way of getting from A TO B . but i see people using cars as a fashion statement rather than transport?????
It's all tosh - MMCC is still as yet unproven. King and his ilk are on the IPCC's payroll and are therefore not at all impartial.
Ace, the reason people drive heavy cars is because of the amount of stolen and illegal cars on the roads driving through red lights. Police do never any roadside checks and they keep releasing these people from prison, so we can't criticise people for having big heavy cars in this lawless mess. Did you not see the programme on the telly the other day showing all the car chases round here, showing how useless our police are? Yankee police would pull alongside and point a gun at the driver and it would be over, here we have miles of chases. I would love to drive a small car or cycle more but the roads are lawless and dangerous. I don't let my children cycle on the roads, only when we are abroad.
The idea that people drive heavy cars because of people running red lights is "unique". That's certainly the first time I've come across it.
Those who do not cycle to work experience a 39% higher mortality rate than those who do, regardless of whether or not they cycle or take part in other physical activities. And studies have shown that people who cycle not only live longer but are heathier in their old age - so they get to enjoy the extra time.
I always enjoy walking and cycling past people queueing in rush hour traffic and remembering that it costs me nothing but that they are spending money sitting in a queue.
Check out www.loveyourbike.org.uk if you want to learn more about cycling
And Chris - do you have proof that the IPCC are pay-rolling scientists to promote man made climate change - cos neither Exxon nor the American Government have uncovered that one and they are spending much more time and money than you trying to discredit the efforts of people trying to imrove our understanding of the Climate
Paul - since 99% of the scientists who back the MMCC myth are members of the IPCC I think that one explains itself really doesn't it? Google worldclimatereport for more info....