Shrinking the Footprint - Climate Change

Climate Change - What is it all about?

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today and will impact on every aspect of human life and on the natural environment.

Long term variations in average weather patterns - and in levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere - occur naturally. (A graph showing how they relate is available.) However scientists generally agree that recent substantial increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, mainly produced by the burning of fossil fuels, are leading to significant changes in the world’s climate. The 20th century was probably the warmest in the last 1,000 years. In the UK, the 1990s was the hottest decade since records began. Current climate models predict that global temperatures could rise by 1.4 to 5.8⁰C over the next century. Even the lowest figures, though they may appear small, would have dramatic effects on our climate. The highest levels could be catastrophic.

Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and more frequent and violent extreme weather events. The effects will be felt here in the UK, and internationally there may be severe problems for people in regions that are particularly vulnerable to change. Melting icecaps mean there are some low lying areas in danger of disappearing underwater, from Pacific islands like Tuvalu, to cities like London and countries like Bangladesh. In the UK, across the country there will be less snow but more rain, yet areas such as the south-east of England can expect droughts to become more frequent.

As it takes time for the effects of our emissions to develop, the impact of our current lifestyles will only be felt in the next 30-40 years. The current changes are the result of our activity in the 1960s and 1970s when greenhouse gas emissions were considerably less than they are now. This means the process of change will continue for some time before our current actions can redress the balance.

For more detailed information on climate change in general, visit the Climate Challenge website. Information on the different ways our climate might change may be found at the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) site.

For a World Health Organisation report on the possible health impacts follow this link (PDF document).

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Climate Change - What is it all about? Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today and will impact on every aspect of human life and on the natural environment. Long term variations in average weather patterns - and in levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere - occur naturally. (A graph showing how they relate is available.) However scientists generally agree that recent substantial increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, mainly produced by the burning of fossil fuels, are leading to significant changes in the world’s climate. The 20th century was probably the warmest in the last 1,000 years. In the UK, the 1990s was the hottest decade since records began. Current climate models predict that global temperatures could rise by 1.4 to 5.8⁰C over the next century. Even the lowest figures, though they may appear small, would have dramatic effects on our climate. The highest levels could be catastrophic. Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and more frequent and violent extreme weather events. The effects will be felt here in the UK, and internationally there may be severe problems for people in regions that are particularly vulnerable to change. Melting icecaps mean there are some low lying areas in danger of disappearing underwater, from Pacific islands like Tuvalu, to cities like London and countries like Bangladesh. In the UK, across the country there will be less snow but more rain, yet areas such as the south-east of England can expect droughts to become more frequent. As it takes time for the effects of our emissions to develop, the impact of our current lifestyles will only be felt in the next 30-40 years. The current changes are the result of our activity in the 1960s and 1970s when greenhouse gas emissions were considerably less than they are now. This means the process of change will continue for some time before our current actions can redress the balance. For more detailed information on climate change in general, visit the Climate Challenge website. Information on the different ways our climate might change may be found at the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) site. For a World Health Organisation report on the possible health impacts follow this link (PDF document).