O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Changes in climate are natural and have been happening since the planet was formed around 4.6 billion years ago. The British Isles, for example has witnessed many changes in its climate over the last half a billion years.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Between 300 and 350 million years ago, the British Isles was covered in rainforest and we had a tropical climate. It was then that the coal and oil we use today was created.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change A while later the super continent of Pangea was forming. The area which is now the British Isles was at the centre of the continent and had become a desert.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The desert existed for millions of years before the climate changed again and the British Isles was once again a tropical habitat. It was at this point 260 million years ago that the Dinosaurs became extinct.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Next, about 100 million years ago the British Isles was submerged by water.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The Earth then became very cold, this period is known as the Ice Age. That was about 15,000 years ago and Britain has been warming up slowly ever since.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Natural changes in climate take place over many years, this allows animals and plants to adapt to new environments. Scientists have discovered that the earth’s temperature is increasing too rapidly and that’s due to the amount of Carbon Dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change What is Global Warming? The Earths surface temperature has been slowly increasing for the last 15,000 years, since the last Ice age. Global warming simply refers to an increase in temperature of the Earths surface.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The Green House Gas effect has had an impact on the Earth’s temperature too. This is a natural process and without it the Earth would be a chilly -18 centigrade instead of the pleasant +15 centigrade it is today.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The gasses that cause the Greenhouse Gas effect are Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide. These gasses form a warm blanket around the Earth and help to prevent any heat from escaping. These gasses have remained at a constant level in our atmosphere for thousands of years.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The rate at which man-made greenhouse gasses are being produced is increasing dramatically. This is a problem.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Each one of us uses energy everyday, at home, at school and when we travel. We are burning more and more fossil fuels; coal, oil and gas, as these fossil fuels burn they contribute to the Green house gasses already in our atmosphere. That means that the Blanket of gasses around the Earth is getting thicker and thicker.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The sun’s rays penetrate our atmosphere and keep the planet warm. Unfortunately because the Earth’s big gassy blanket is so thick, no heat can escape.The Earth retains the suns heat causing the planet to warm up more quickly than it should.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change What effect is Global Warming having on the planet?

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change In the UK we are witnessing longer Heat waves. August 2003 saw the highest temperatures on record.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change In Scotland snow disappeared from the highest mountain tops for only the fourth time in recorded history. Snow is becoming rarer and it is thought that many regions will experience long runs of snowless winters.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Flash flooding is becoming more of a threat in the UK and severe storms and rising sea levels (10cm since 1900) are eroding our coast line.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Higher sea levels will threaten the low-lying coastal areas of the world, such as the Netherlands and Bangladesh. Throughout the world, millions of people and areas of land will be at danger from flooding. Many people will have to leave their homes and large areas of farmland will be ruined because of floods. In Britain, East Anglia and the Thames estuary will be at risk from the rising sea.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change As the temperature continues to rise snow and ice in the arctic will melt, Polar Bears and Seals will have to find new hunting and fishing grounds.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The effect of a change in the weather on plant growth may lead to some countries not having enough food. Brazil, parts of Africa, south-east Asia and China will be affected the most and many people could suffer from hunger.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change In the UK the energy we use in our homes produces 27% of the Carbon Dioxide Emissions entering the atmosphere.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change A further 25% comes from domestic transport.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change How can you help?

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change There are lots of things each one of us can do to help combat Global Warming. You can start by always switching lights off when you leave a room.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Use Energy Saving Bulbs in your house, they last much longer than ordinary household bulbs and use much less energy so they are better for the environment.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change You could try walking or cycling, this won’t produce harmful Carbon Dioxide and its great for your body too!

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Most of the rubbish we throw away can be recycled, such as glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper. Recycling used materials uses less energy than making new ones.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Never leave electrical equipment on standby. It wastes money and electricity.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change What is Standby?

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change When you switch off the television with the remote control your TV automatically goes into standby or ‘sleep mode’. In ‘sleep mode’ the TV is still using electricity even though you aren’t watching it.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Computers have a standby mode too, wasting electricity when you aren’t using them.....

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change You might leave your games consoles or DVD players on standby. The effect is always the same. A waste of money, electricity and fossil fuels.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change To switch equipment off properly it needs to be turned off at the plug.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Alternatively there is a product for sale that will switch off your equipment for you.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change It’s totally automatic so you just turn the TV off with the remote control and the IntelliPlug™ or the IntelliPanel™ will do the rest for you.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change It works in just the same way on your computer and on all the other items we leave on Standby in our homes. The IntelliRange can be used in work places and in your school, in fact, any where equipment is left on standby.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change It’s one of the easiest things that we can all do to help fight Global Warming, so remember, when you have finished using the TV, computer, DVD player or games consoles make sure you don’t leave them on standby, they waste lots of energy unless you switch them off.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change The problems we face today are tough but each and every one of us can do something to combat Global Warming.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change Remember... Switch lights off when you leave the room. Don’t leave anything on standby. Walk rather than use the car when possible. Cycle more, use you body’s own energy. Recycle as much as possible. Look at energy saving products, they can save up to £35 a year. ( Tell your friends what they can do to help.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Climate Change For more information on Energy Saving Products Visit; One World – One Future – One Click.

O N E C L I C K A N D Y O U ’ R E O F F Additional resources available on the following websites: One World – One Future – One Click.