09 February 2012If we know that the climate is changing then it is sensible to prepare for the change in the climate. Even if all CO2 emissions stopped today, we will still need to adapt to some climate change.
Effects of Climate Change
Climate Change can result in a number of different effects.
Eleven of the 12 hottest years on record occurred between 1995 and 2006. For details, visit the UK Climate Impacts Programme website.
UK coastal waters have warmed by about 0.7 degrees Celsius over the past 30 years. The average sea level around the UK is about 10 cm higher than it was in 1900.
Since rain records began in 1766, the amount of winter rainfall in England and Wales has risen. Over the last 45 years it has also become heavier; in 2000, UK flooding was the worst for 270 years in some areas. Flood damage now costs Britain about £1 billion a year.
Globally, climate change means that extreme weather events – like floods, droughts and tropical storms – will become more frequent and dangerous.
Further changes in rainfall and temperature will affect many animal and plant species around the world. Some species might be unable to adapt quickly enough and habitats might not be available for them to move into
The Association of British Insurers estimates that UK households will pay up to four per cent extra each year due to extreme weather events.
As temperatures increase and rainfall patterns change, crop yields are expected to drop significantly in Africa, the Middle East and India.
With rising temperatures, diseases like malaria, West Nile disease, dengue fever and river blindness will shift to different areas. It is predicted that 290 million additional people could be exposed to malaria by the 2080s.
Large areas of Brazilian and central African rainforest could be lost if climate change results in big falls in rainfall in these areas. This would be on top of the forest already being cut down to clear land for agriculture. These forests currently absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Climate Change and the South East
The Government recently published updated climate projections. The following links will take you to three different projections for the South East of England based on the amount of CO2 that is put into the atmosphere.
Climate change and Kent
See the links to Kent County Council's website:
How will climate change affect life in Kent?
Further information
Visit the of the effects of climate change section on the Directgov website.
