Climate crisis will hit Londoners - Hughes

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Jun 2009

"Today's climate change projections are alarming for London. Under the worst case scenario the River Thames will rise by more than six feet before the end of the century. Such a rise could place millions of Londoners at serious risk of flooding.

The current Thames Barrier was built long before we knew these alarming facts. We must hope for the best but plan for the worst."

Simon Hughes was commenting after the government's launch of the UK Climate Projections 2009, designed to help us understand how the UK climate will change during the 21st century. More information on the study is available here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2009/climate-0618.htm