Note to Correspondents

PHOTO EXHIBIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE opening today AT HEADQUARTERS

A photographic exhibition highlighting the urgent need to combat climate change at the local, national and international levels is opening today in the General Assembly Visitors’ Lobby.  Presented by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, the British Consulate General, New York, and the British Council USA, “NorthSouthEastWest” chronicles the impact of climate change in communities from all parts of the globe, as seen through the lenses of 10 of the world’s top photographers.

The exhibit, developed by the British Council in partnership with The Climate Group and Magnum Photos, features the art of award-winning Magnum photographers including Ian Barry, Bruce Gilden, Chris Steele-Perkins and Alex Webb.  Each photograph captures a striking example of climate change and its effects, ranging from extreme weather events and observed glacier retreats to poor urban air quality and environmental refugees.  The exhibition also highlights ways to reduce carbon emissions in communities around the globe, including fuel cell technology, effective public transport systems, carbon capture and storage and emissions trading.

“These striking photographs reveal the realities of climate change.  Natural disasters are more frequent.  Deserts are expanding.  Sea levels are rising.  Climate change is not some far-off, future threat.  It is happening now.  It affects us all.  We need to urgently act,” said Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.  “What is especially valuable about this exhibition is that it also shows us how we can respond to the challenge.  Reducing carbon emissions, more effective public transport systems, greater use of renewables -– these are some of the solutions that the United Kingdom and the United Nations are pursuing.”

The United Nations will host “NorthSouthEastWest” until 12 October 2006.  The exhibition originally opened in March 2005 in London as part of the British Council’s global ZeroCarbonCity initiative, a two-year campaign to raise awareness and stimulate debate around climate change and the challenges faced around the world.

The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and the British Consulate, New York, promote Britain’s climate change agenda through public outreach programmes, both within the United Nations system and throughout the New York consular area.

For more information, please visit www.ukun.org and www.britainusa.com/ny/.  Visit www.britishcouncil.org/usa for additional information on the British Council.  Also included in the exhibit is a light installation sculpture by artist Norman Francoeur.  For more information on United Nations exhibitions, call Jan Arnesen, tel.:  212 963 8531; or Liza Wichmann, tel.:  212 963 0089.

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