What is climate change?
Traditional weather patterns are changing across the world and the most obvious and threatening element of this is global warming. When carbon - from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal - is released into the atmosphere it creates a ‘greenhouse effect’.
A small increase in the world’s temperature means massive changes in weather and eco-systems, melting ice caps and the permafrost which, in turn, releases more carbon.
Records show major changes in weather patterns over the last 40 years, particularly in the last decade, leading to:
-
higher insurance premiums from increasing storm and flood damage (stormier weather means rain often falling faster than our drainage systems can handle and heavy rain and strong winds can damage buildings)
-
tourism hit through lack of snow for ski resorts
-
more rain in winter - some areas of Scotland have seen a 75% increase over the last 40 years - means more flooding, damaging roads, fields and sports fields and a heavy strain on drainage systems
-
less rain in summer with hosepipe bans in many areas and Scottish reservoirs running dangerously low in recent years
-
changes in the garden and nature including a longer growing season and warmer ponds and rivers risking the survival of birds and fish and the insects they depend on
This is just the impact here. Across the world, millions of people are already suffering climate change results through floods, drought and famines. As ice caps melt and saltwater levels rise, fresh water will become extremely scarce resulting in major global migrations by environmental refugees.
You can help
You can take action now to reduce your ‘carbon footprint’ (the amount of carbon emissions resulting from your way of life). You can:
-
switch off lights and use energy saving light bulbs
-
turn your central heating down by 1ºC
-
close curtains and blinds at dusk to stop heat escaping
-
don’t heat rooms you don’t use
-
don’t leave televisions, computers etc on standby, which can still use up to 70% of the energy appliances need when in use
-
don’t leave appliances like mobile phones on charge unnecessarily
-
buy renewable energy wherever you can (visit www.greenelectricity.org)
-
boil only as much water as you need
-
have a shower instead of a bath
-
make sure the washing machine or dishwasher has a full load
-
wash clothes at 30ºC and use 40% less energy
-
buy appliances with a good energy efficiency rating
-
insulate your home, draught-proof windows and doors and fill draughty gaps
-
walk instead of driving and take public transport whenever possible.