| |
What is Climate Change?
Climate refers to the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. The climate of the Earth is not static, and has changed many times in response to a variety of natural causes.
The main human influence on global climate is likely to be emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. At present, about 6.5 billion tonnes of CO2 is emitted globally each year, mostly through burning coal, oil and gas for energy.
Climate change is already happening. Globally, the ten hottest years on record have all occurred since the beginning of the 1990s. Current climate models predict that global temperatures could warm from between 1.4 to 5.8oC over the next 100 years, depending on the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted and the sensitivity of the climate system.
What climate change means for us
For the UK, climate change means warmer temperatures, wetter winters and drier summers, less snow, and higher sea levels, leading to flooding of coastal areas.
Across the globe, there may be severe problems for regions where people are particularly vulnerable to changes in the weather. Flooding, droughts, food shortages and the spread of disease are commonly predicted. The social, environmental and economic costs of climate change could be huge.
Opportunities
Climate change presents a significant challenge to the UK and to the international community. There are also enormous opportunities if we are willing to take action. Government, business and individuals all have a part to play, and all of us can benefit from rising to the challenge of climate change.
|
|
|
|
