Why is the climate changing?
What are Emissions?
Emissions are gases that are released into the air. When we are talking about climate changes the main emissions we talk about are;
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2))
- F-gases
When these gases are released into the air they build up in the atmosphere. Once there, they act like a blanket around the planet, trapping heat. This trapping of heat is why we call these emissions greenhouse gases (GHGs). As more greenhouses gas emissions enter the atmosphere they trap more and more heat. As if more emissions is similar to using a thicker blanket. Over time as the blanket gets thicker the entire planet starts to warm up. This is what we call Climate change or global warming.
Where do Emissions come from?
Green House gases come from a range of different sources. Modern society has been built on the use of fossil fuels and the subsequent release of greenhouse gas emissions. Today this means many actions we undertaken lead to the release of emissions. From how we heat our homes, produce electricity, the food we eat and how we travel.
| Gas | From |
|---|---|
| Carbon Dioxide | Burning coal, oil, gas and wood, gas boilers for heating, petrol and diesel in vehicles, ships and planes, generating electricity in power plants |
| Methane | Livestock (Cows, sheep, pigs, chickens), coal mines, oil wells, wetlands |
| Nitrous Oxide | Agriculture (fertilisers), Livestock manure, burning of fossil fuels |
| F-Gases | Industrial applications, refrigeration |
How has the climate changed
Since the industrial revolution, when the world started to use far more fossil fuels, humanity has been the main cause for releasing billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Such a large amount of greenhouse gases has altered the temperature across the entire planet. By measuring the temperature across the entire planet it is possible average these numbers and see the average global temperature change today. Since the industrial revolution the average global temperature has increased by an estimated 1.15 degrees Celsius.
This increase has been enough to alter weather patterns around the world, cause sea ice and glaciers to melt leading to increased sea levels, increase the number and intensity of heatwaves, dangerous storms and flooding, altered animal behaviour, caused extinctions of species and led to the loss of human life.
What can we do to stop Climate Change?
As we know the cause of climate change is caused by human activities to stop climate change it is in our power to change how we do our modern activities to stop the release of green house gases and stop climate change.
| Action | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Heat our buildings using electricity instead of burning fuels | Reduces Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide emissions |
| Generate electricity by renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro) | Eliminates Carbon Dioxide and ensure net-zero emission electricity |
| Replace petrol and diesel transport with electric vehicles (EVs) |
Eliminates tail pipe emissions |
| Improve energy efficiency of buildings and equipment | Reduce the amount of energy wasted for heating, cooling and using electricity |
| Adapt food systems to low emissions versions | Reduced Methane and Nitrous Oxide |
| Restore nature and biodiversity | Functional ecosystems can work to pull Carbon Dioxide out of the atmosphere and the more biodiverse they are the more resilient they are to extreme weather |
What can I do to reduce emissions
There are many of ways an individual can reduce their emissions and help us create a low carbon North Warwickshire. To simplify the actions we have created a number of pages relevant to residents and North Warwickshire Business. We have included guidance, information and where possible links to projects, grants and funding which can be found at the top of the page.