What Is Climate Change?

Flooding: Flooding in the central North Island. (C) GREENPEACE / Earnshaw 2004

The world is warming up. As we burn the planet's coal, oil and gas reserves, and cut down its remaining forests, greenhouse gases are pouring into the atmosphere. The delicate balance of atmospheric gases that sustains life is thickening, trapping more and more heat and irreversibly changing our world.

The Causes

For all the technological gloss of the 21st century, the developed world is living in an industrial era, pumping out emissions from coal, oil and gas and continuing to grossly modify or destroy natural ecosystems. This doesn't need to be the case. There are clean, affordable and proven solutions for all the most polluting sectors and in New Zealand, we have access to a rich and wide range of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and geothermal.

The science

This massive and rapid change to our climate is like nothing humankind has seen before. As such, scientists assessing the extent of the problem have been cautious and careful in reaching consensus over time. But the jury is finally in; the scientific community now agrees that climate change is real and it's caused by our actions.

The impacts

As our planet warms up, glaciers, permafrost and sea ice are disappearing. Sea levels are rising, seasons are shifting and extreme weather is becoming more common. As temperatures increase further, there will almost inevitably be more flooding, more drought, more disease, new pests, more famine and more war, creating hundreds of millions of refugees and causing the destruction of entire ecosystems and species.

According to the World Health Organisation , the 0.6 degree rise we've experienced is already killing around 150,000 people every year. The world's poorest people - who are the least equipped to cope with climate change - are being affected first and worst

Some parts of New Zealand are likely to experience more frequent flooding, while other areas are likely to experience more regular drought conditions. We are likely to see new pests become established and the range and impacts of existing pests increase. In our region sea levels will rise around the Pacific Islands and the Great Barrier Reef is likely to suffer greater coral bleaching.

How much climate change can we bear?

An average temperature rise of around 1.3 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century is already inevitable and will bring with it some devastating impacts worldwide. If that figure hits two degrees centrigrade, many scientists say that not only will the impacts be much greater, but the probability of feedback mechanisms kicking in will be much higher; climate change could spiral completely out of control. Some studies say we have less than 10 years to tackle emissions if we are to stay below that temperature threshold.

The politics

Carbon and greenhouse gas emissions don't respect borders. While developed countries have contributed most to climate change, it is the world's poorest people who are already suffering most from its impacts. China and India are now in the middle of their own industrial revolutions, and the impact of their growing emissions will be felt worldwide. To successfully address the problem of climate change, all countries will need to work together. We need a global framework and global cooperation. The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial first step but far, far more needs to be done.

The solution

We are the solution. Every one of us who share this planet can and must make changes in our own lives - big and small - to reduce our contribution to climate change.

We are all going to feel the effects of climate change and if we don't do something to now curb our emissions the effects are going to be disastrous. Government and industry have a big role to play, but as individuals we too can really make a difference.

Why change is important now and in the future

Human activity is warming our globe. We have been burning large amounts of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas and gas - which contain carbon dioxide, the primary cause of global warming - for almost 200 years. This has enabled us to build the modern societies that exist today. However, what we didn't know was that along the way we have been creating the biggest problem that we have ever faced.

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 150,000 people are already dying every year because of climate change. Within 50 years, one-third of all land-based species could face extinction. If we carry on the way we are now, by 2100 the planet will likely be hotter than it's been at any point in the past two million years.

The debate is over - now we need action.

...Its not too late

The good news is that it is not too late to avoid dangerous climate change. The science tells us we have around 10 years to significantly lower our greenhouse gas emissions . We know that climate change is caused by burning fossil fuels. The technologies that could dramatically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels - decentralised energy, renewables and efficiency, hybrid cars, efficient buildings - already exist and have been proven to work. If we start cutting our emissions now, using these technologies that are available now, then there is still a chance to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

We can also do our bit to protect and enhance the world's natural ecosystems by not consuming the products which are derived from that destruction.

We are the last generation that can stop this global catastrophe, and we all need to do our bit.

What's it all got to do with me?

We all play a part in climate change, because most things we do in our day to day life consume energy, and most of that energy is nonrenewable. The way we travel to work or on holidays, what we eat and drink and buy and what we use power for; all these things have an impact.

Every time we turn on an electric switch, buy something or get in our cars, we need to think about the energy that's being consumed and where it comes from. Then multiply it by the population of New Zealand and the world!!!..

Thats a lot of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Of course one person alone can't stop it all - but together we can.

As more and more people make changes it will soon turn into a lot of people who together will have the power to ensure our decision makers do their bit to avoid this disaster.

New Zealand drought: (C) Communities for climate protection