Energy
“Climate change is one of the most serious environmental threats facing the world today” (DEFRA, 2005).
Each year billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gas, are released into the atmosphere as we burn coal, oil and gas for energy.
Greenhouse gases prevent heat from escaping from the atmosphere into space - just like a greenhouse. As they build up they are causing an increase in global temperatures (global warming) and will lead to significant climatic changes.
This is already happening!
- The Thames Barrier was designed to rise once every six years, in emergency situations to protect London against severe flooding. However from November 2000 to March 2001 it was closed a staggering 24 times and 19 in 2003! (Channel 4 fact checker).
- Extreme weather conditions are terrorising home owners across the UK with insured damages over £3 billion in 2007 (Association of British Insurers).
- Seven of the 10 warmest years on record occurred in the last decade, in 2003 over 30,000 people died across Europe as a result of the heat wave. The NHS predicts that higher temperatures in Britain over the next 50 years may cause 10,000 more cases of food poisoning each year, 3,000 extra deaths annually from heatstroke, an extra 5,000 deaths from skin cancer, and 2,000 cataracts each year.
- In the next 20 years over half of the UK will be at risk from a Malaria outbreak.
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Since the Industrial Revolution the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere has gone up by an estimated 36%. The UK has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. Large institutions such as Bournemouth University have an important role to play in achieving this target |
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