Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) trap heat in the atmosphere which would otherwise escape into space. As more heat gets trapped, the earth below heats up too. There is a diagram illustrating this in the climate change strategy below.
Computer modelling suggests that human activities have caused at least half of the increase in global temperatures since 1900 and most of the warming over the past 50 years by increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Over the last century, average global temperatures have risen by 0.74°C. Further rises of between 1.1 and 6.4°C are predicted over the next century. The ten warmest years on record have all been since 1990 and the last six years have been the warmest years since records began. Climate change means we can expect to see more violent and changeable weather patterns, such as flooding, strong winds and hot dry summers.
The world has now realised that climate change poses a real threat to the way we live our lives both now and in the future. It is important that Warrington responds both as a council and as a community to this threat by reducing our emissions and by preparing for the changes in our environment. We can only make a real difference by working with others, by learning from them and by setting an example. Even if you don’t believe in climate change it makes good sense to reduce your energy consumption, it will save you money and in improve the health of our environment. The shrink your carbon footprint guide - see link below, give you some quick tips on how to start.
To find out more about climate change you can view our climate change strategy - see link below.
In 2008, the UK became the first country in the world to have a legally binding long term framework to cut carbon dioxide emissions. The act set a target of at least an 80 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be achieved through action in the UK and abroad. Also a reduction in emissions of at least 34 percent by 2020. Both these targets are against a 1990 baseline.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change website has more information about the act and other climate change policy.
Related documents:
Climate_change_strategy.pdf
Preliminary flood risk assessment.pdf and Appendix_A_Low_Res.pdf