CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTINCTION OF BIRD SPECIES

That this House notes with concern the 2004 study by the Stanford Center for Conservation Biology suggesting that between 10 and 25 per cent. of the world's bird species could be extinct, or on the brink of extinction, by 2100 unless concerted action is taken to prevent this; believes that such a catastrophic loss of biodiversity will diminish the richness of the natural environment; further believes that such extinctions could upset the natural balance of ecosystems across the world, and could lead to damaging impacts for humans, such as the spread of disease and greater damage to crops from insect pests; notes that climate change is considered to be a key factor threatening the survival of many bird species; therefore calls on the Government to take action within the UK to help wildlife adapt to changing climate conditions by safeguarding and managing existing protected areas rich in biodiversity, restoring and creating new habitat in accordance with the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and making the wider countryside and marine environment more wildlife-friendly and permeable to species movement; and further calls on the Government to take a lead internationally to tackle climate change by using the UK Presidency of the European Union to initiate discussions on a robust Phase Two for EU emissions trading, press for an EU-wide charge on aviation emissions, and push for a one per cent. per annum reduction in energy use across the EU under the new Energy Efficiency Directive.