Temperature rises could be catastrophic says Met Office

Global warming will see temperatures rise to catastrophic levels within a lifetime unless urgent action is taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions, a study suggests.

Britain will experience a 4°C temperature rise by 2060 with extreme implications for agriculture if emissions are left unchecked, according to Met Office projections.

The study was undertaken by the Met Office Hadley Centre on behalf by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The findings are due to be unveiled at an Oxford University conference today.

Meteorologists and other experts at the event will discuss the implications of a 4°C rise on agriculture, water and wildlife.

Richard Betts, head of climate impacts at the Hadley Centre, acknowledged that a 4°C rise was an extreme scenario.

But he told The Guardian: “It’s also a plausible scenario.”

Scientists believe a 4°C rise could threaten the water supply of half the world’s population and wipe out up to half of animal and plant species.