Climate Change
Download some advice and guidance on how to communicate the issues of climate change now!
Communicating Climate Change
Climate Change is one of those issues that takes us out of our comfort zone. Simply because it is a global issue we often think that there is nothing we can do and (in a typical human reaction) go into a state of denial - and yet we can all be part of the solution.
But to be a part of that solution we must have an understanding of what it means. This is the Defra description: "Climate refers to the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. The climate of the Earth is not static, and has changed many times in response to a variety of natural causes.
The main human influence on global climate is likely to be emissions of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. At present, about 6.5 billion tonnes of CO2 is emitted globally each year, mostly through burning coal, oil and gas for energy.
Climate change is already happening. Globally, the ten hottest years on record have all occurred since the beginning of the 1990s. Current climate models predict that global temperatures could warm from between 1.4 to 5.8oC over the next 100 years, depending on the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted and the sensitivity of the climate system.
For the UK, climate change means warmer temperatures, wetter winters and drier summers, less snow, and higher sea levels, leading to flooding of coastal areas."
The climate change we expect in the next 30-40 years will be due to our past greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change later this century will be determined by the emissions we allow now.
You can keep an eye on developments in climate change impacts and adaptation by subscribing to the UK Climate Impact Programme's free monthly e-news bulletin. Register now.
Working locally...
The West Midlands Climate Change Pledge for Schools invites you to make a pledge to reduce the school's contribution to the negative impacts of climate change. Choose which actions your school and community could undertake. The actions range from simple steps at level 1 to more complex actions requiring greater commitment and determination at level 3.
You can make a public declaration of your pledge on this site and you can print out a pledge poster for display in your school. Once your school has registered, you can find out which other schools have also pledged to take action by using the 'Browse Schools' button. Contact them to share ideas and learn from each other.
Tip for the day. Follow this link to download videos and podcasts relating to Climate Change. They are very useful introductions for learners, colleagues and parents. Tomorrow's Climate: Today's Challenge
Click on this link for games, downloads and photos which will help you to understand how every day actions affect the environment around you. The site is aimed at two age groups, the 7-11's and 11-15's as well as having a section with resources for teachers.
Last Modified:
05/01/2007 14:40:03
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