Climate Change

Global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth, as a result of "the greenhouse effect". This is caused by higher levels of carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants reacting like glass in a greenhouse and allowing sunlight to warm the earth’s surface. This heat then becomes trapped as it radiates back into space. As greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere, the Earth becomes hotter. The greenhouse effect is causing climate change which is, in turn, having various observable effects on the environment, from glacier shrinkage to accelerated sea-level rise, to longer and more intense heatwaves. Many scientists around the world agree climate change is happening at a faster rate than ever before owing to our use of fossil fuels. 

Global warming is measured in parts per million (PPM). Before the industrial revolution (between 1750 – 1850) CO2 was sitting at around 280PPM. In 2018, the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide reached 407.4 PPM (parts per million) for the first time in at least 800,000 years. Unless you’re well versed in climate change terminology, these are just numbers without any meaning. So to put it in perspective the OECD report suggested that at the very minimum we have to maintain CO2 levels for a sustained period at no greater than 450PPM by 2050. 

Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK will be cut to almost zero by 2050, under the terms of a new government plan to tackle climate change. This means that emissions from residential properties, commercial properties, farming, and transport will have to be avoided or offset by planting more trees or removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Prime Minister Theresa May said there was a "moral duty to leave this world in a better condition than what we inherited”. 

It is reported that if other countries followed the UK’s example, there is still only a 50-50 chance of staying below the recommended 1.5C temperature rise by 2100. Worse still, a report by PWC called "busting the carbon budget" states the current rate of fossil fuel usage in the global economy means we are likely to exceed that limit by 2034.

A 2013 report written by notable experts in their field; James Hanson, Johan Rockstrom and 15 other notable scientists called ‘Assessing ‘Dangerous Climate Change’: Required Reduction of Carbon Emissions to Protect Young People, Future Generations and Nature’, states that safe global CO2 levels should be at 350PPM to ensure the maximum safe concentration need to stabilise global temperatures.

The consequences of not acting are potentially catastrophic, and a 100% move from fossil fuels to renewable energy seems like the only choice we can make to pull us back from the abyss.