Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. It is believed that the resulting rise in global temperatures will change weather patterns, increase sea levels, and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather.
Climate is the average of weather experienced over a long period. This can be measured through temperature, wind levels, and rainfall patterns. During the history of the world, the planet's climate has changed many times, mainly in response to natural causes. However, the planet's overall average temperature has increased by 0.74°C in the last century, with over half (0.4°C) occurring since the 1970s. This, it is believed by many scientists, is a result of human behaviour, through carbon emissions.
Understandably, many governments around the world are trying to make changes to slow the effects of climate change, namely by convincing the public to reduce their emissions.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) involves most world countries with the exception of America. In 1997, the UNFCCC set up the Kyoto Treaty to consider how to tackle climate change and reduce global warming. A decade later, as the situation worsens, a number of countries have now approved additions to the Kyoto. These additional measures are more powerful and legally binding. The UK government has signed up to stronger sanctions under the Kyoto Protocol and states it is fully committed to reducing its emissions of the six greenhouse gases over the next decade to 12.5% below their 1990 levels.
Carbon dioxide is thought to be the biggest cause of global warming. Additionally, the government has pledged to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2012. Emissions from households contribute 31% of total UK emissions.
In May 2007, the Government published The Energy White Paper, which originally stated that an increase in energy efficiency could reduce emissions by 5 million tonnes, although this has now been re-estimated at 4.2 million tonnes.
In addition to cutting greenhouse gases, the government the government has also set a target for producing 10% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. This target was set as a result of a 2003 study by the Sustainable Energy Policy Network. The findings of the report stated that carbon dioxide emissions rose during that year by 1.4%, whilst the amount of energy generated from the renewable sources fell.
There are several options available for generating renewable energy, such as wind energy, onshore and offshore, and hydro power. As a completely clean form of energy production, wind energy produces no waste and its source of power is everlasting. The current most developed renewable energy technologies are focusing on wind power, this is because the UK has potentially the largest wind energy resource of any European country.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has calculated, that theoretically, the UK's onshore wind could produce enough energy to meet 80% of the country's electricity needs. It estimates that 10% of the UK's current electricity could be met by using approximately only 1% of the total UK land area.
By using offshore wind, the DTI predicts the UK could meet it's electricity supply demands ten times over. To use offshore wind, less than 1% of the country's seabed would be needed to site turbines.
Nearly half of current UK carbon emissions are a result of energy used every day. People can all help prevent climate change by being more energy efficient and saving energy. Simple things like turning unused lights off, turning the thermostat of central heating systems down by 1°C, replacing light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, will not only help reduce carbon emissions, but help to reduce bills.
If people take action now, the world can help prevent further damage caused by global warming and climate change, however, if not, then the unpredictable weather variations the country has experienced recently will continue and become more severe.
Gas consumption is decreasing, however, electricity consumption has almost doubled within the last decade. By being more energy efficient, consumers can save the environment, as well as money! It has been reported that £1 in every £3 that is spent on energy is immediately wasted. For example, according to the Energy Savings Trust, 4 out of 5 homes do not have loft insulation, which could save around £197 per year.
If every household in the UK reduced energy consumption by 20% it would be the same as 8 million less cars on the road or 750,000 less short haul flights every year. If every home replaced one 60W light bulb with an energy efficiency bulb that is used for 3 hours per day, it would be the same as planting 10 million trees.
