Karen Wordsworth is a partner in Met Office Consulting, the consultancy practice set up by the Met Office in 2006 to work with business on climate change-related issues. She was previously head of international business at the Met Office.
What one single thing convinces you most that climate change is taking place?
In the UK, it’s the recent increase in the Central England Temperature, which is the world’s longest running series of temperature records dating back to 1659. From a global perspective, it has to be the pictures of the ice caps and glaciers retreating.
In what way will climate change affect our lives most in the next ten years?
It’ll depend upon the actual changes in the weather year on year. There will be large annual variations that happen as they have always done, but continuing pressure on the water resource, especially in southeast England, could well be one of the most important issues. You could have gardens that look completely different from the way they look now.
There’s so much noise about climate change, are people in danger of becoming complacent?
I think that’s always a danger when it becomes a big media event. People presume it’s something that’s 50, 60 or 100 years away and find it hard to do anything about it. It’s also becoming viewed as a political hot potato.
What’s in it for business to adapt their models to climate change? How will that benefit them? What are the risks if they don’t adapt?
There will be opportunities for businesses that understand what’s happening and adapt. It’s about risk management.
