Our planet faces unprecedented change. If we continue on our current path, by the end of this century, or earlier, our environment will be in a state that modern humans have never experienced. In parts of the world supplies of food and water will be at risk and flood defences stretched. The UK will not be immune.

We are confident that we can still avoid many of the most seriously damaging consequences of a changing climate and environment – but only if we act with sufficient urgency and make the right choices about the future. We cannot ignore these issues in the hope that they will just go away: climate change is happening and humans are contributing to it. Failure to act is likely to be very costly.