Climate change is a serious and damaging global problem. In order to prevent future man-made climate change and deal with damage already done, all countries must take action.

It's an indisputable fact that climate change is happening, and man-made carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases are the main cause.

How climate change happens

The earth's temperature

The earth's temperature is controlled by sunlight that warms the earth, and infrared radiation emitted from the surface that cools the ground. If the amount of each of these types of energy becomes unbalanced, then the earth's temperature changes. 

The greenhouse effect

Source: Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research

• Energy coming from the sun passes through the atmosphere, heating the surface of the earth
• Some infrared radiation from the surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (mainly carbon dioxide and water vapour), and some is re-emitted downwards
• As a result, the earth's surface and the lower part of the atmosphere get warmer

This natural greenhouse effect has taken place for billions of years. Without it, the earth would be inhabitable. However, scientists have raised concerns that human activities such as deforestation are causing an increase in greenhouse gases.

The increase in CO₂ emissions

Source: Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research

This chart shows how the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere is increasing. If we keep going at our current rate of emissions, the levels will double in the next 100 years. If we could stabilise emissions at 1990 levels, the CO₂ concentration would still go on rising substantially. And even if we could halve this level of emissions, the amount would still creep up.

These increasing levels of greenhouse gases mean the earth is warming up and the climate is changing. This will have a devastating impact on our economy and natural world - in the UK and in the most vulnerable developing countries.