Find out about climate change

A description of climate change

Climate change is the large-scale, long-term shift that we are seeing in the planet's weather patterns and average temperatures, driven by human activity that has released carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. 

Recent extreme events including hotter, drier weather, as well as torrential rain and flooding, are now more likely to happen than they were in the past and show how vulnerable we are to climate change.

The causes of climate change

The Earth’s atmosphere has a layer of what are called greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which sunlight (mostly short-wave radiation) passes through to reach the surface of our planet. 

Once sunlight has passed through these greenhouse gases, it is absorbed by the surface of the Earth, which then bounces back a different type of light (longer wave infrared radiation) into space.

Changes in human behaviour since the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s have resulted in a large increase of fossil fuel use. Fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, are used for all sorts of things, such as heating homes, powering vehicles and manufacturing the products that we all use or buy. 

A side effect of burning fossil fuels is the production of extra greenhouse gases.

Over time, these extra greenhouse gases have built up in the atmosphere and are trapping more of the infrared radiation that would normally bounce back out to space - this is causing temperatures to rise, resulting in climate change.

More information about climate change can be found on the Met Office website.

The impact of climate change

As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, the world faces a number of risks and challenges. 

Flooding, heatwaves, forest fires, food shortages, droughts, displaced communities and loss of biodiversity could become more common and have far reaching impacts around the world.

In Kingston, we are likely to experience more extremes of weather such as higher temperatures, prolonged hot and dry periods as well as heavier rainfall events and stronger winds. 

Shifts in seasonal patterns and general temperatures and rainfall amounts may also change what plants can successfully grow in our area with knock on impacts for insects and birds. 

You can find out more about the impacts of climate change on the Met Office website.