What is Climate Change ?

Earth’s climate is changing. Greenhouse gases are accumulating. Human activities are the cause.

Further Resources

» The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) » Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report

The build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) threatens to set the Earth inexorably on the path to a unpredictably different climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says many parts of the planet will be warmer. Droughts, floods and other forms of extreme weather will become more frequent, threatening food supplies. Plants and animals which cannot adjust will die out. Sea levels are rising and will continue to do so, forcing hundreds of thousands of people in coastal zones to migrate.

One of the main GHGs which humans are adding to the atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2), is increasing rapidly. Around 1750, about the start of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, there were 280 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere. Today the overall amount of GHGs has topped 390 ppm CO2e (parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalent – all GHGs expressed as a common metric in relation to their warming potential) and the figure is rising by 1.5–2 ppm annually. Reputable scientists believe the Earth’s average temperature should not rise by more than 2°C over pre-industrial levels. Among others, the European Union indicated that this is essential to minimize the risk of what the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) calls dangerous climate change and keep the costs of adapting to a warmer world bearable. Scientists say there is a 50 per cent chance of keeping to 2°C if the total GHG concentration remains below 450 ppm.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Climate change is here to stay. But it is still in our power – as individuals, businesses, cities and governments – to influence just how serious the problem will become.

Further Resources

» Climate Neutral Network Website » Kick the Habit: A UN Guide to Climate Neutrality » Twelve Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit » Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Tourism Sector

Whether you are an individual, an organization, a business or a government, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your carbon emissions, the total of which is described as your carbon footprint. You may think you don’t know where to begin, but by reading this, you have already begun.

Indeed, some quite simple ‘no regrets’ measures can more than halve the daily emissions of an individual, with even bigger cuts possible if sectors like power suppliers and automobile makers as well as aviation and appliance manufacturers contributed more to the greening of global lifestyles.

Individuals who reduce their energy consumption and thus their climate impact also save money. On a more macro-economic level, economic opportunities arise from measures taken to reduce GHGs: insulating buildings for example will not only save energy costs, but also give the building sector an enormous boost and create employment. While some sectors might suffer increased costs, many will seize the opportunity to innovate and get a step ahead of their competitors in adapting to changed market conditions.

Many companies, cities, organizations and indeed whole countries are embarking on strategies to achieve even zero emission businesses, communities and economies. A great deal of this transition to a green economy is being federated and empowered under the banner of UNEP's Climate Neutral Network (CN Net) which was launched in February 2008.

Some low-carbon lifestyle choices at home, in the office and when traveling include:

• Waking up with a traditional wind-up alarm clock rather than the beep of an electronic one - this can save someone almost 48 grams (g) of CO2 each day;
• Choosing to dry clothes on a washing line versus a tumble dryer - a daily carbon diet of 2.3 Kg of CO2;
• Replacing a 45-minute workout on a treadmill with a jog in a nearby park. This saves nearly 1 Kg of the main greenhouse gas;
• Opting for non-electric toothbrush will avoid nearly 48g of CO2 emissions;
• Heating bread rolls in a toaster versus an oven for 15 minutes saves nearly 170g of CO2;
• Switching from regular 60-Watt light bulbs to energy-saving ones will produce four times less greenhouse gas emissions;
• Taking the train rather than the car for a daily office commute of as little as 8 km will save a big 1.7 Kg of CO2;
• Shutting down your computer and flat screen both during lunch break and after working hours will cut CO2 emissions generated by these appliances by one-third;
• Investing in a water-saving shower head will not only save 10 liters of water per minute, but will also slash CO2 emissions resulting from a three-minute hot shower by half;
• Reducing the weight of goods and items carried onboard by airline passengers to below 20Kg could cut global GHG emissions by two million tonnes of CO2 a year.