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It is not too late to tackle climate change....Climate change is a serious problem that affects us all in Cornwall. We are already experiencing more severe weather events with increased rainfall and more frequent storms. The predictions for the south west suggest that we will continue to see wetter and stormier winters and hotter and drier summers. As we are surrounded by the sea we may also experience increased risks from storm surges and rising sea levels. To find out more about the likely impacts of climate change in Cornwall and the South West you can visit the UK Climate Impacts Programme The latest and most comprehensive information on climate change comes from the International Panel on Climate Change. In their summary findings Climate Change 2007, they highlighted that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have risen by 35% since the industrial revolution. This has resulted in a warming of 0.74°C over the past century. Not only did their report indicate that this warming was very likely to be driven by human influence, but it predicts temperature rises during this century will be in the region of 1.5°C to 6°C. The significance of this is illustrated in the diagram below, which the Office of Climate Change included in their report “A Brief Summary of the Scientific Case for Climate Change” – click here for a PDF copy of this report.
Some changes to the climate are inevitable – even if we stop emitting gases now, the gases we have already released have started to change the climate, but we can influence the future. The majority of scientists agree that to avoid radical changes of temperature in the future, action is needed now and that emissions of greenhouse gases must begin to decline over the next 10–20 years to avoid extreme changes to our climate. Every small step we take to mitigate climate change can add up to a significant difference. You can find out more about climate change from our understanding climate change pages. The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which is produced whenever we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for energy. In the UK over 40 per cent of CO2 emissions come directly from what we do as individuals; for example, heating and using electricity in our homes and driving vehicles. Flights are the next biggest source of individuals’ CO2 emissions. This means our everyday actions are adding to the problem of climate change. By taking responsibility for our personal
Lots of individuals and organisations from all over Cornwall have already decided to act to reduce the impact of climate change. We have featured 35 examples of these as part of climate radio and you can hear and read about all of these stories from this website. Be inspired and find out what people are already doing follow these links:
You can also use the new Act on CO2 calculator to find out what your carbon footprint is. You'll also get a personalised action plan with recommendations about how you can help tackle climate change. The future of our climate is in our own hands, don’t wait for someone else to take the first step, be part of the solution now. Tomorrows climate is today’s challenge. Impact picture from OCC report, based on Stern Review 2006
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OptionsThis StoryListen again to this story.... Related Stories17. Climate Change will affect us all Related LinksClimate Change UK Climate Impacts Programme IPCC Act on CO2
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CO2 emissions and taking steps to reduce them we can avoid the worst effects of climate change. Every tonne we save reduces our commitment to future climate change. Simple things can help, such as: