Impact of climate change

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Impact of climate change

"The earth is kept warm by the greenhouse effect. Certain gases in the atmosphere (so-called greenhouse gases) absorb energy that is radiated from the Earth's surface, and so warm the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon without which life on Earth as we know it would not be possible, as the Earth would be 30°C cooler. However, our modern lifestyles have resulted in us releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases - like carbon dioxide and methane - into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and so pushing up temperatures globally."

UK Climate Impacts Programme

Likely changes in the UK include:

  • An increase in flooding from rain and coastal storms, with the Thames Barrier currently raised 13 times a year compared to 3 when built
  • More intense heat-waves: by 2040, typical summers may be hotter than that of 2003, when tens of thousands of people died across Europe
  • Water shortages in some areas
  • Long-term negative impact on the economy
  • Rise in incidence of skin cancer
  • Appearance of poisonous insects, spiders and scorpions, and other pests

Likely changes worldwide include:

  • Increase in both floods and droughts
  • Rising sea levels which threaten low-lying islands and regions
  • Tens of millions of refugees from areas rendered uninhabitable
  • Threat to biodiversity - 30% of the world's plant and animal species could be on the way to extinction by 2050
  • Increase in the intensity of hurricanes
  • Threat to water supplies for drinking and irrigation
  • Decrease in agricultural productivity in the poorest countries
  • Long-term negative impact on the global economy

Useful links

Background information

BBC Climate Change

Guardian Environment

Carbon calculators

Measure up your carbon footprint using tools such as:

Act on CO2

Carbon Footprint

Resurgence

Energy saving

Almost half the UK's CO2 emissions come from the things we do every day.

Energy Saving Trust

DIY Kyoto

SwitchandGive

Ethical Transport Association

Use the buyer's guide to check the emissions of your current car and the greener alternatives.

ETA

ActOnCO2

Freecycle

Help reduce manufacturing emissions by donating rather than disposing of unwanted items. Almost everything gets taken within hours.

Freecycle

Government advice

Check out the Government public information services on greener living.

UK Environment and greener living

Ireland Enfo

Local food

Track down local producers, suppliers and farmers' markets, thereby reducing emissions from food transport.

Big barn

Farmers markets

Low-Carbon Buildings Programme

The UK government's grant scheme for making homes more energy efficient.

Low carbon buildings

Offset schemes

Contribute money to schemes designed to reduce carbon emissions to offset emissions caused by you own activities.

Climatecare

Voluntary Carbon Standard

Rainforest

Sponsor an acre of endangered rainforest, avoiding the release of hundreds of tonnes of CO2.

Coolearth

World Land Trust

Real Climate Science

A blog keeping track of developments in climate science and criticism bad science from climate change deniers.

Real climate

Recycle Now

Find local recycling points for all kinds of products.

Recycle now

Seat 61

How to travel from the UK to anywhere without flying.

Seat61

US Book Publishing

The US book publishing industry is also conducting a similar programme and the Book Industry Study Group has produced a report on Enivironmental Trends and Climate Impact.

Book Industry Study Group

Green Press Initiative

Publishers Association 29B Montague Street, London WC1B 5BW Tel: 020 7691 9191

Booksellers Association 272 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1BA Tel: 020 7802 0802