Economic activity - powered primarily by fossil fuels – and including just about anything we do, from driving cars to generating power, results in the emission of heat-trapping or 'greenhouse' gases. These gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, accumulate in the atmosphere. They then trap more and more of the sun's heat, which results in warming¹⁸ of the earth’s atmosphere. These activities - rather than natural variations – are the cause of 'climate change'

The principal greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. The level of carbon dioxide has increased steadily since the industrial era (the 1800s), and its concentration is currently at a level unequaled in the past 650,000 years¹.

Over the past hundred years, global average temperatures have increased by nearly 0.76˚C¹. Already, polar ice is melting at a record pace, ecosystems are reacting, and glaciers are in retreat²².

Levels of greenhouse gases are projected to increase substantially in the coming years, resulting in a temperature increase of between 1.4 and 5.8˚C² by 2100. If the level of greenhouse gases continues to rise, complex and irreversible changes to the climate system are likely to occur¹⁸. These will inevitably result in profound consequences for humanity, biodiversity and the planet as a whole²².

With a continued increase in temperature, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that many parts of the planet will get warmer, extreme weather will become more frequent and sea levels will rise. The effects of these changes will threaten our food supplies, force millions to move from coastal areas, and result in large-scale species extinctions. Scientists believe that a rise in average global temperatures of more than 2˚C (more than 550 ppm of CO₂e) represents a 'tipping point'.

When climate change is fast becoming the defining issue of our era, the way forward is through global collective action. It is time we think differently, understand the seriousness of the situation and convert this 'problem' into an opportunity. The knowledge base and technologies for change already exist. So there is reason for hope and reason enough to change.