Did you know…?

Did you know that each person in the UK produces enough CO2 every year to fill five hot air balloons (about 9 tonnes)? This page contains many interesting facts about climate change – the scale of the problem, and some ideas about where we can start to make changes.

It’s happening:

• Globally, 10 of the hottest years on record have occurred since 1990 (records began in 1861)
• In England, 7 of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1990.
• The earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 0.7°C during the last century.
• There has been a 10% decrease in snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere since the late 1960s
• Arctic sea ice has reduced by about 40% in recent decades
• Extreme weather events (floods, droughts, storms) are becoming more frequent
• The average sea level globally rose between 0.1 and 0.2 metres during the 20th century.

Emissions

• UK emissions of CO2 currently account for about 2 % of the global total.
• The average household could save around two tonnes of CO2 a year by making itself more energy efficient.
• The UK is committed under the Kyoto Treaty to cut CO2 emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2012, and has an additional target of a 20% reduction by 2010.
• The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution reported the UK should aim to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
• Cambridgeshire County Council’s target is a 20% reduction by 2010, working towards a 60% reduction

Emissions from transport

• In 2003, road transport made up around 21 per cent of total man-made carbon dioxide emissions in the UK.
• 32.3 million vehicles were on Britain's roads in 2004, a rise of 3.2 per cent on 2003
• For a journey from London to Edinburgh, a passenger travelling by plane could be responsible for 96.4 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide and a car passenger 71 kilogrammes, while a train passenger would lead to just 11.9 kilogrammes and a coach user only 9.2 kilogrammes.
• One long-haul return flight can produce more carbon dioxide per passenger than the average UK motorist in one year.
• UK emissions from air transport increased by 85% between 1990-2002
  97 million passengers flew between the UK and the rest of Europe in 2003 - almost double the number in 1993, and the Aviation White Paper (December 2003) assumes UK aviation will almost treble by 2030.

Some of the Impacts…

• 3.5°C is the predicted rise in average UK temperature by 2080.
• It is estimated global temperatures could increase by up to 6°C, although some models suggest it could be almost twice this.
• Direct financial losses from climate change could run globally at £213bn a year by 2050, not counting social and environmental costs.
• Significant loss of habitats and possible extinction of some plant and animal species.
• Global mean sea level could rise by almost a metre by 2100.

But every little helps…

• Can you leave the car at home and use an alternative mode of transport one day a week?
• Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could knock 10% off your heating bill and reduce energy use.
• Switch lights off when you leave the room, and don’t leave electrical equipment on standby, as equipment on standby can still use a significant amount of power
• Recycle and compost your waste, this reduces the amount of methane released by landfill, and recycling uses less energy than manufacturing from raw materials.
• Buy locally produced food where possible to cut down on ‘food miles’ – there are many farmers’ markets in Cambridgeshire