Climate change: a global race against time

But now there are new threats. During a recent visit to the Northeast, I saw the damage brought on by flooding. Of course, throughout history, weather patterns have varied and droughts and floods have continued. But in the Northeast, the pattern of flooding has increased markedly. In 1960, about 50 per cent of Thailand was covered with forests, now it is only 15 per cent.

I spent three months last year in the North revising the Thai language. I was based in Chiang Mai, where the air quality at that time had reached critical levels as a result of widespread forest fires. Farmers who still use the slash-and-burn technique to prepare their land for new crops further aggravate the situation. The burning of forests damages the environment and our way of life in so many ways.

It destroys an area of beauty. It releases particles that damage our lungs. It pumps carbon dioxide into the environment, adding to the "greenhouse" effect and raising tem?peratures. It takes away the lungs of the world - the trees - which convert carbon dioxide into the oxygen we need to live. It leads to soil erosion, and when the soil washes away it is not replaced, meaning that trees cannot grow back again. The lack of trees and soil means that water flows down the hillsides causing flash floods.

I am proud that Britain is at the forefront of international efforts to save our planet. In 2006, leading economist Lord Stern released the "Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change", which discussed the effects of climate change and global warming on the world economy.

Stern's report suggests that climate change could be the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen. The most interesting finding is that a warming of temperatures by just three to four degrees will result in many more floods. By the middle of the century, 200 million people may be permanently displaced due to rising sea levels, heavier floods and drought. A two-degree rise could have 15 to 40 per cent of species facing extinction. The report showed that the cost of doing nothing far outweighs the cost of tackling the problem.

As well as studying the causes, raising public awareness and playing a leading role in international bodies, Britain is taking some concrete steps to combat the problem. The British Council, British Embassy Bangkok and HSBC, along with the government, have launched the "Schools Ecological Footprint Challenge" which encourages students to measure their impact on the environment. In addition, the Embassy and other partners are implementing the "Climate Change Poster Competition"; and recently provided some Bt600,000 to develop a road show to raise awareness in Chiang Mai and its surrounding areas. Other British firms in Thailand are also involved in raising awareness. Last year, on the occasion of His Majesty's 80th birthday, Tesco launched the five-year "Plant Nine Million Trees" project, while HSBC rolled out its "Garden Project" in Pathum Thani.

The fact, however, is that combating climate change is a race against time. Given the gravity of the situation, we cannot do too much to preserve the environment; we can all play a part by planting trees, recycling material, turning down our air-cons. But most important is to care and work together.