Climate change refers to prolonged alterations in temperatures and weather patterns. While some of these changes can stem from natural causes like variations in solar activity or significant volcanic eruptions, since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver for climate change. The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas is the top contributor. This process releases greenhouse gases, mostly carbon dioxide (CO2), which form a thermal blanket around the Earth, trapping solar heat and elevating temperatures. As a result, the planet’s surface temperature has risen by approximately 1.1°C since the late 1800s. (Source: UN & BBC) Image source: NPS.GOV.
What are the impacts of Climate Change ?
- Rising Temperatures: Global temperatures have been steadily increasing, leading to heatwaves and more frequent occurrences of extremely hot days.
- Melting Ice: Glaciers and polar ice caps are melting at accelerated rates, contributing to rising sea levels. This threatens coastal communities and habitats due to increased coastal erosion, flooding of low-lying areas, and the loss of coastal habitats.
- Extreme Weather Events: Climate change has been linked to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, storms, floods, and droughts.
- Changes in Precipitation Patterns: Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, leading to more frequent and severe droughts in some regions and increased precipitation and flooding in others. This can disrupt agriculture, water supplies, and ecosystems.
- Ocean Acidification: Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are being absorbed by the oceans, leading to ocean acidification. This can harm marine life, especially organisms with calcium carbonate shells, such as corals and shellfish.
- Loss of Biodiversity: Climate change is driving shifts in ecosystems and habitats, causing disruptions to wildlife populations, and leading to species extinctions. This loss of biodiversity can have cascading effects on ecosystems and human well-being.
- Health Impacts: Climate change can exacerbate health problems, including heat-related illnesses, respiratory problems due to air pollution, the spread of vector-borne diseases, and food and waterborne diseases due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns.
Source: United Nations
What is being done about it?
The Paris Agreement, adopted by 193 countries plus the EU in 2015, is a significant step. It commits world leaders to preventing global temperatures from rising more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“The agreement lists a series of commitments:
- To “pursue efforts” to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C, and to keep them “well below” 2.0C above those recorded in pre-industrial times
- To limit greenhouse gas emissions from human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally – known as net zero – between 2050 and 2100
- Each country to set its own emission-reduction targets, reviewed every five years to raise ambitions
- Richer countries to help poorer nations by providing funding, known as climate finance, to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy” (Source: BBC)
For more information on the Paris Agreement, visit here.
What can you do?
Individual actions play a crucial role in combating climate change. Visit here for some steps individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to climate mitigation.
Climate action in North Somerset
There are many environmental groups, campaigns and initiatives happening in and around North Somerset to get involved in or to support your shift towards reducing your climate impact. Visit here for how you could get involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our list of frequently asked questions for more information.
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