WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
"Climate" is a very general term that has a variety of closely related meanings. Usually, "climate" refers to the average, or typical, weather conditions observed over a long period of time for a given area.
The climate of the Earth is not static, and has changed many times in response to a variety of natural causes.
The Earth has warmed by 0.74°C over the last hundred years. Around 0.4°C of this warming has occurred since the 1970s.
The recent Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leaves us in no doubt that human activity is the primary driver of the observed changes in climate.
According to AR4, mean global temperatures are likely to rise between 1.1 and 6.4°C (with a best estimate of 1.8 to 4°C) above 1990 levels by the end of this century, depending on our emissions. This will result in a further rise in global sea levels of between 20 and 60cm by the end of this century, continued melting of ice caps, glaciers and sea ice, changes in rainfall patterns and intensification of tropical cyclones.
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UK
It’s not all doom and gloom - there is still time to reduce the impact we are having on climate change if we act now. If we don’t – it will be our children and grandchildren who will have to live with mistakes of their fathers with the unpredictable weather variations that we are already experiencing becoming more severe over time.
CURRENT CLIMATE CHANGE
During the last 40 years, the UK's winters have grown warmer, with heavier bursts of rain. Summers in the UK are growing drier and hotter – The effects of climate change can be seen in our everyday lives. Stark warnings are ever present- water shortages in the UK, natural disaster further afield.
Interesting fact: Until 2001 - The Thames barrier was raised on average three times a year - NOW - The Thames barrier is now raised on average 13 times a year.
To find out more about carbon credits and carbon trading visit us on Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment