Climate Change FAQ

What’s climate change?
Scientists worldwide agree that the earth is warming, and it is mainly caused by human activity. We burn fossil fuels (such as oil, coal and gas) to meet our insatiable appetite for energy and power. This releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere trapping more of the sun’s heat. This causes the planet to warm up and if left unchecked, it will have catastrophic consequences.

But hasn’t the earth gone through hot and cold cycles before?
Yes, but those took place over millions of years in response to natural causes such as fluctuations in energy received from sun, changes in the earth’s orbit and volcanic eruptions. What we’re experiencing now has happened in the last 100 years. It’s happening so fast that there isn’t enough time for the planet to adapt. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere right now is the highest it’s been for the past 800 000 years. Ten of the hottest years on record have occurred since 1990.

We've already got nearly a degree warmer in the last 100 years, with the rate of warming accelerating exponentially, so we’re getting warmer quicker.

So how do I contribute to climate change?
Almost every single thing we do has an emissions consequence. From the electricity we use, to driving our cars, flying for work or holidays right down to the fossil fuels that were used to produce almost every item we own, we all contribute to releasing greenhouse gases.

What can I do about this?
Get informed. Learn about the consequences of your actions. Unlearn old habits and re-learn new sustainable ones. See our what can you do section for more information. Although some of the changes may appear insignificant in isolation, the cumulative effect of all these small changes done by millions of people worldwide will make a difference.

How do we stop it?
Climate change is not just a daunting challenge; it is also an enormous opportunity for innovation. While there is no “silver bullet” technological solution, many tools already exist for addressing climate change, and new options on the horizon could potentially yield dramatic reductions in worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases. Humanity has the power—working collectively and individually and at all levels of society—to take serious action to reduce the threat posed by climate change. Find out more about carbon footprints, offsetting and carbon credits in our carbon offsetting section.