Climate change is not just about day-to-day weather fluctuations, but rather significant and lasting changes in average weather patterns over decades or longer.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities since the mid-1800s, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. These shifts include rising global temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, melting ice and glaciers, and rising sea levels. While natural variations in the Earth's climate system can occur, the current rapid warming trend is largely attributed to human actions.
Key aspects of Climate Change
Long-term shifts
Global warming
A primary component of climate change is the ongoing increase in global average temperature, also known as global warming.
Human influence
Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), have been the dominant driver of climate change.
Greenhouse gases
Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases including, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and contribute to the warming of the planet.
Knowsley Councils Net Zero 2040 target aims to reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and reduce our contribution to climate change.
Effects of Climate Change
- Rising temperatures: Global average temperatures are increasing, with some areas experiencing even faster warming.
- Changes in precipitation: Weather patterns are shifting, leading to more extreme precipitation events like droughts and floods in some regions.
- Melting ice and glaciers: Ice sheets and glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, contributing to rising sea levels.
- Rising sea levels: The melting of ice and the expansion of water as it warms are causing sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities.
The Paris Agreement was agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in 2015, with the goal to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The Earth is already about 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in the late 1800s and emissions continue to rise.
What does Climate Change look like in Knowsley?
Climate Change is expected to bring warmer, wetter winters and hotter, potentially drier summers to Knowsley with more frequent heat waves.
The Met Office have produced a Climate Change Report for Knowsley.
The main outcomes of the report outlined the following impacts of Climate Change in Knowsley:
- Increased chance of warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
- Hot summers are expected to become more common.
- Potential increase in the intensity of heavy summer rainfall events which will increase the risk of flooding in Knowsley.