THE threat of climate change to wildlife and people in Wiltshire is real, urgent, and needs to be tackled now in order to avoid a catastrophe, according to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's director, Dr Gary Mantle MBE.

Speaking in response to recent press coverage of the effects of global warming on the world's wildlife, Dr Mantle said action was urgently needed on two fronts: protecting wildlife from the worst effects of climate change, and changing human lifestyles to slow global warming. Scientists believe that a key contributor to our changing climate is the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. One of the most significant is carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels such as oil, petrol and coal.

"The widely-publicised report in the respected journal Nature, that climate change could mean the extinction of a million land-based species in the next 50 years, comes as little surprise," said Dr Mantle.

"We agree with the government's chief scientist, Dr David King, who warns that climate change is a bigger threat to our future than terrorism.

"The collapse in wildlife numbers across the globe, including a quarter of Europe's birds, is predicted to happen if climate change continues at its current rate. The human cost is just as high. Millions more people around the world will be exposed to hunger, drought, flooding and debilitating diseases such as malaria.

"This is not a natural disaster. It is being caused by things we do every day, things as simple as switching on the lights."

Dr Mantle said: "At present 25 per cent of all energy used in the UK is used to heat and light our homes.

"The average home could cut energy use by 33 per cent and make savings of up to £200 a year on fuel bills.

"For anyone in Wiltshire and Swindon who cares about wildlife, cutting their household emissions is one of the best things they can do."

He said the latest research reinforced this view.

Phone the Energy Efficiency Advice Line, based at the Trust, on 0800 512012 to find out how.