The Earth’s climate has changed many times in response to natural causes. The term ‘climate change’ usually refers to changes that have occurred since the early 1900s as a result of human activity.
To understand climate change, we need to understand the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what we see outside our window on a day to day basis. Climate is the average weather and its variations that we experience over time. So, one extreme weather event is not in itself evidence of climate change, whereas trends of average global temperatures and trends in the frequencies and intensities of extreme weather events are.
Climate change has risen up the political agenda over the last few years and is now considered one of the greatest global threats. These pages provide information about the causes and effects of climate change and what we can all do to minimise and learn to live with the effects of climate change.
- What is the cause of recent climate change?
- How will the climate change in the UK and in Nottinghamshire?
- Potential impacts of climate change in the East Midlands
What is the cause of recent climate change?
The Earth’s atmosphere is surrounded by a layer of naturally-occurring 'greenhouse' gases. These gases let in some of the energy we receive from the Sun and stop it being transmitted as heat back out into space. This process makes our planet warm enough to support life.
Our atmosphere has been delicately balanced for thousands of years with fairly stable levels of greenhouse gases. Since man developed on Earth, our climate has been fairly stable. Recent human activities have led to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This makes it more difficult for heat to escape back into space. As a result the Earth is getting warmer and the climate changing – globally, the ten hottest years on record have all been since 1997.
There are lots of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change but the one that has the greatest influence is carbon dioxide, which is released, for example, when we burn carbon-based fuels like coal, oil and gas.
See the UK Climate Impacts Programme web pages for more information on the causes of climate change.
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How will the climate change in the UK and in Nottinghamshire?
Climate change is likely to impact on the majority of Nottinghamshire residents in some way. We should expect to have:
- Warmer, drier summers
- Milder, wetter winters
- A higher chance of more frequent, more severe extreme weather events, such as storms, floods and heat waves.
For more detailed information about the expected changes to the climate of the East Midlands, see the UK Climate Projections 2009.
The extent of the change we expect to experience is largely unavoidable up until the 2040s (due to the amount of CO2 already in the atmosphere and the length of time it will remain here). The extent of change we should expect to see beyond the 2040s will largely be dependent on how much carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere in the next few decades.
Scientists believe that it will be very difficult to cope with global temperature increases of more than about 2°C. This might not seem much but it is the difference between now and the last ice age and is critical for the planet. Whilst the UK might be able to cope better than some poorer countries, it may still be a great challenge.
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Potential impacts of climate change in the East Midlands
Climate change will affect everyone in Nottinghamshire because it will affect how people live and many of the key local services we use, as well as the environment that we enjoy. In addition to many challenges there are a number of opportunities that we should make the most of.
The following possible impacts of climate change have been predicted for the East Midlands (source: The Potential Impacts of Climate Change in the East Midlands, summary report July 2000)
Climate change could have the following adverse effects:
- Less water for domestic and other uses
- More flooding on coast and around rivers
- Change to the types of crops grown in the region
- Poorer working conditions for staff
- Higher energy use as a result of increased demand for cooling systems
- Water shortages, droughts and stresses on wetlands, habitats and agriculture
- Subsidence damage to buildings
- Added stress on biodiversity
- Increased tourism which could damage attractions, e.g. Peak District.
But it could also provide some opportunities:
- Potential switch to renewable energy could reduce energy bills
- Increase production of energy from renewable sources
- New food crops and garden plants (hence new markets)
- New markets for environmental technology.
If you would like more detailed information see The Potential Impacts of Climate Change in the East Midlands technical report [PDF].
The leaflets and reports on the right also provide more information about what climate change means for Nottinghamshire
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