Understanding Climate Change
AVDC information on climate change
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today.
Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The effects will be felt locally, regionally, nationally and globally.
Our planet's climate is anything but simple. All kinds of factors influence it and there are subtle interactions between many of these factors.
Yet despite all the complexities, a firm and ever-growing body of evidence points to a clear picture: the world is warming, this warming is due to human activity increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and if emissions continue unabated the warming will too; with increasingly serious consequences.
Fact 1 - Climate change is happening and humans are contributing to it.
Fact 2 - Global average temperatures are continuing to rise.
Fact 3 - Current climate change is not simply part of a natural cycle.
Fact 4 - Earth's recent warming cannot be explained by solar activity or natural factors alone.
Fact 5 - If we continue emitting greenhouse gases this warming will continue and delaying action will make the problem more difficult to fix.
Fact 6 - Climate models can predict the main features of future climate.
Facts sourced from www.metoffice.gov.uk