Frequently Asked Questions – Climate Change

1. Is there evidence of a changing environment?

In 2014, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the warming of the atmosphere and ocean system is unequivocal. The amounts of snow and ice have diminished; sea level has risen; the amounts of greenhouse gases have increased; and there has been significantly increased precipitation in some areas. The IPCC report concluded that the earth is warming and it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming from the mid-20th century.

2. What is Climate Change?

Climate change is the term used to describe the significant long term change in the expected patterns of average weather in a region or across the globe, i.e. it is about abnormal variations to the climate and the effects of these variations.

Does Climate Change matter?

Small increases in global temperatures can have big impacts on our planet and inhabitants.

3 What is being done to mitigate against climate change?

United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: A key element of the agenda involves tackling climate change in a global partnership.

The Paris Agreement: A global agreement adopted by a number of countries at the COP21 in Paris 2016. In this agreement each country committed to taking action to cut emissions and limit warming to within 2°C with an ambition of of 1.5°C by the end of the century. As of April 2018, 175 parties had ratified the Paris Agreement.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Publish reports presenting the latest evidence for the physical science basis of observed global warming.