What is climate change?
What is climate change?
Climate change means that temperatures and weather patterns on the earth, change. Throughout earth’s history, the climate has changed many times, usually over thousands or tens of thousands of years. However, these changes have happened extremely fast over the last 100 years. There is a clear link between humans burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), higher concentrations of greenhouse gases (like CO2 and Methane) and warmer temperatures around the globe. You can see the temperature changes in Derby since 1850 on the #ShowYourStripes websiteOpens in new tab.
This rapid change in the Climate is the single biggest threat facing the world.
The United Nations states that:
The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to human beings and all other forms of life on Earth.
Learn more about what climate change is on the United Nations websiteOpens in new tab.
So, what does this mean for Derby?
Derby has seen and will see impacts like:
- more frequent periods of extreme hot weather
- more severe storms
- increased flooding, including areas which haven’t historically been affected
- increased drought
- an increase in vector-borne diseases (for example, Dengue fever carried by mosquitos)
- loss of species and habitats in our parks and green spaces
- food may cost more because it is harder to grow
The good news is that acting on climate change brings lots of opportunities and benefits. You can find out more in the next section.