About Climate Change

Find out about climate change evidence and impacts, how we will need to adapt, and government and international policies.

Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today.

What is Climate Change?

There is strong evidence that human emissions of greenhouse gases are changing the world's climate.

The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), produced when we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for energy.

Climate change is a serious problem that affects us all. Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

The effects will be felt here in the UK and internationally there may be severe problems for people in regions that are particularly vulnerable to change.

Reducing Climate Change

The UK is acting now to adapt to climate change and to reduce the risk by reducing our contribution to the causes.

To reverse the effects of climate change and to achieve our desired CO2 reductions we will all have to examine the way we live our lives - how we live at home, how we travel around, and how we work and play.

All of these activities involve the use of energy and resources which, if they are not sustainable, will continue to damage our environment.