NEW YORK, September 8 – A photographic exhibition highlighting the urgent need to combat climate change at the local, national and global levels opens today at the United Nations Main Gallery. Presented by the UK Mission 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 ten 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, Alex Webb, Chris Steele-Perkins and Bruce Gilden.  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 UK Ambassador to the UN Sir Emyr Jones Parry.  “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 UK and the United Nations are pursuing."

NorthSouthEastWest will be on view at the UN Visitors Lobby seven days a week, from 9:15AM to 5:45PM.  Admission to the exhibit is free.  Visitors should enter at East 46th Street and First Avenue; the last entry is at 4:30PM daily.

The United Nations will host NorthSouthEastWest until October 10, 2006, when it will move to the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark. 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. Between now and 2007, NorthSouthEastWest will visit cities in more than 60 countries.

[NOTE TO EDITORS:  The United Nations will be closed to the public from September 18 to September 22, 2006.  Visitors should call 212-963-TOUR to confirm opening hours from September 16 to September 28, 2006.]

The British Council USA increases recognition of the wide array of learning opportunities available in the UK and facilitates educational cooperation between the US and UK.  The organization also showcases British creativity by introducing the American public to high-quality, groundbreaking artistic achievement, and highlights the UK's scientific innovation in disciplines ranging from biotechnology to planetary science.  Through its work, the British Council USA endeavors to promote an image of the UK that is up-to-date, vibrant, in the vanguard of new thinking and fully representative of the country’s geographic and cultural diversity.

The UK Mission to the United Nations and The British Consulate, New York promote Britain's climate change agenda through public outreach programmes, both within the UN system and throughout the New York consular area. For more information, please visit www.britainusa.com/science/energy_environment.

The Climate Group is a non-profit organization working to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by assembling a leadership coalition of the world’s most pro-active companies, cities, states and governments.

Magnum Photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer-members. With powerful individual vision, Magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities. Through its four offices in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, and a network of 15 sub-agents, Magnum Photos provides photographs to the press, publishers, advertising, television, galleries and museums across the world.

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