British ministers on Wednesday launched a new Google Earth map designed to show the potential impact of temperature rises of four degrees Celsius.

The interactive map lets members of the public see the dramatic changes that could occur if action is not taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Significant alterations include higher temperatures over land compared to the sea, and extreme temperature increases in the Arctic, according to the map.

It was created using analysis from the Met Office Hadley Centre, a largely state-funded climate change research unit that advises government, and other leading scientists in the field, according to a Foreign Office statement.

Unveiling the map, Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham said it demonstrated the new government's determination to tackle climate change and show a wide audience the dangers or rising temperatures.

"The threat from climate change has not gone away and this government is committed to doing what it can to take action," he said.

"We are committed to being the 'greenest' government ever."

Greg Barker, energy and climate change minister, said: "This map reinforces our determination to act against dangerous man-made climate change."

Vicky Pope, from the Met Office, added: "If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, global average temperatures could increase by four degrees Celsius by the end of the century, and possibly as early as 2060."

The map can be viewed at: www.fco.gov.uk/google-earth-4degrees.kml.

Google Earth must already be installed for the application to work.

earlier related report
China plans to approve Nokia's web mapping service
Beijing (AFP) July 14, 2010 - China plans to give mobile phone giant Nokia a licence to offer online mapping services, making it the first foreign firm to be approved since new rules were unveiled in June, an official said Wednesday.

The official at the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping told AFP that Nokia's application to operate its Ovi Map service would be given the green light, though final approval was still subject to public opinion.

"If there is any objection to the published results, we will organise an investigation. Otherwise we will formally approve the companies' applications," said the official, who declined to be named.

As many as 26 companies have been given preliminary approval so far, state media reported this week.

The official said Internet titans Google and Microsoft had not submitted applications to provide mapping services in China in the world's biggest online market.

Under new regulations introduced in June, all firms providing Internet map and location services in China are required to apply for approval from the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, state media said last month.

Authorities will be allowed to shut down the service if providers do not get a licence by the end of this year, the China Daily said.

Foreign firms wanting to provide mapping and surveying services in China are required to set up joint ventures or partnerships with local firms.

A spokeswoman for Google was not immediately available to comment Wednesday, but she said last month that the web giant was examining the regulations to understand their impact on its mapping services.

China last week renewed Google's licence to operate in China following a standoff between the US Internet giant and Beijing over state censorship.

Google, its Chinese rival search engine Baidu and another local company DDMap currently account for more than half of the online mapping market in China, the China Daily said.