Climate change is now widely recognised as one of the biggest threats that faces the future of the Earth. The ten warmest years on record have all occurred in the past twelve years. (MET office and University of East Anglia, 2006). Increases in the temperature by only a few degrees are predicted to have widespread social and environmental impacts, including species extinction, millions of people left homeless through flooding and threats to global food production. The Science
The climate has always fluctuated – the sun’s activity, the earth’s orbital path and volcanic eruptions have and continue to influence the Earth’s climate. However, temperatures are now increasing at an unprecedented level due to human activities increasing the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. Greenhouse gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane, trap and re-emit infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface – this keeps the Earth warm. However, the concentration of greenhouse gases now far exceeds pre-industrial levels. Before the industrial revolution, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere was 280 parts per million CO2 equivalent - the current level is 430 parts per million CO2 equivalent (Stern Review 2006). It is this inevitable and dramatic increase in carbon dioxide that will have an impact – it is just common sense. The Politics
The Kyoto Protocol, an amendment to the international treaty on Climate Change, brought in a legal commitment for those countries that were signatories, to reduce their emissions. Signed in 1997, it finally came into force in 2005 when Russia ratified the treaty. As a result, industrialised countries have committed to cut their combined emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012. Each country that signed the protocol agreed to its own specific target. EU countries are expected to cut their present emissions by 8% and Japan by 5%. Some countries with low emissions were permitted to increase them. Most climate scientists say that the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol are not stringent enough. The consensus among many climate scientists is that in order to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, 60% reductions in emissions are required. The Market
In 2006, Sir Nicholas Stern reported on the results of his review of the economics of climate change. The Stern Review calculated the impact climate change will have on the world economy. He suggested that a minimum of 5% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could be lost to climate change. If more dramatic predictions are realised, the cost could be more than 20% of GDP which in the UK is equal to £380 trillion. The Future
Action on climate change can avert the predicted devastation that climate change will cause – many solutions exist already and others are within our grasp. The Stern Report calculates that by investing just 1% of global GDP in measures to counter climate change, such as emission trading schemes, energy efficiency and low carbon technology including renewable energy generation, we can stabilize levels of greenhouse gasses and avoid dangerous climate change. Crucially, action is required today. This is why Good Energy Group is in the business of offering solutions to individuals and businesses to reduce their personal carbon emissions. |
