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Climate change is a serious problem affecting all of us. Our current carbon dioxide emission levels are causing global warming and are unsustainable for the planet . To communicate about climate change successfully, it's important that we understand the nature of the climate change challenge.
Our planet is surrounded by a blanket of gases which keeps the surface of the earth warm and able to sustain life. This blanket is getting thicker, trapping in heat as we release greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels for energy and as we cut down forests and replace them with agricultural land. As a result, our climate is starting to change.
Scientific research indicates that, because of climate change, we may experience more intense and more frequent extreme weather events. A gradual increase in temperature also has major implications for ecosystems, growing seasons, animals and their habitats.
Some changes to the climate are inevitable – even if we stop emitting gases now, the gases we have already released will have an effect. However, we must do everything we can to avoid further changes and to adapt to the new situation we find ourselves in.
Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Every tonne emitted into the atmosphere commits the world to more warming. But every tonne we avoid emitting helps reduce the risk.
For more information, please visit www.climatechallenge.gov.uk/understand.html
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