Climate Change

Within this section

Climate change is considered by many to be the biggest issue the world now faces. Recent developments in climate science are allowing more reliable predictions to be made about climate change in both a global and regional context. Findings suggest that if we continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at current rates, we are at a very high risk of crossing a ‘tipping point’ in the climate system, after which severe and perhaps irreversible changes are likely to take place. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change now have increased confidence levels and are able to clarify and quantify many of the uncertainties associated with climate science

Global impacts

The global climate is, by nature, a very dynamic system, but current trends are headed toward rapid climate change on a scale not seen for thousands of years. Crucially, the natural variability of the climate has been influenced by human activity – the industrialisation of the world and the associated increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The climate system is both complex and highly sensitive, with feedback systems and strong interrelationships between the oceans, atmosphere, biosphere and cryosphere (Earth’s storage of ice).

Clear evidence of climate change can already be seen. Sea levels are rising, atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns are changing, and there are changes in rainfall and temperature affecting much of the world. Arctic sea ice, the Greenland Ice Sheet and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet are all melting, and the majority of the world’s glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate.

Climate change in the UK

In the UK, we can expect to see a marked increase in temperatures, with milder, wetter winters and drier, hotter summers. Extreme weather events are also predicted to increase in frequency and intensity. Instances of heat waves, droughts, coastal and river flooding have all been increasing over the past fifty years and are set to continue to do so. The risks to human health, infrastructure, economy and the natural environment are vast and mean that climate change is an issue which needs to be tackled promptly and effectively.

Aviation and climate

Aviation already accounts for about 13% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The present rapid growth of air travel, if allowed to continue unchecked, would mean the UK would find it almost impossible to meet its 2050 target for reducing emissions by 80%.