Climate change
Global consequences
Earth, as a living, breathing planet, needs to maintain a balance to survive. People have been upsetting this balance for hundreds of years but our modern world has created a new challenge for earth’s future – climate change or global warming.
The greenhouse effect
The earth’s atmosphere needs to heat and cool in order to maintain a balanced environment capable of sustaining life. When certain gases are released into the atmosphere they act like feathers in a duvet – trapping heat – and creating a greenhouse effect on the planet. The more greenhouse gases the higher the global temperature.
Creating the greenhouse
Fossil fuels such as oil and coal are the main culprits of global warming. Fossil fuels power our cars, our homes, industry and when they are burned, they produce carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 accounts for roughly two thirds of the greenhouse gases affecting climate change. Levels of CO2 have risen by one third since 1750 and they are set to double over the next 100 years. The more CO2 released, the more it gets trapped high up above our heads, which like a greenhouse is causing our world to heat up. Scientists predict that the global temperature could rise by as much as 5 degrees in the next 50 years.
The impact
A warmer Britain might sound appealing but unfortunately it’s not that straightforward. Experts believe that the rising temperatures could cause serious problems around the world (including Britain). These are just a few;
- Polar ice caps melting which will mean a rise in sea level resulting in parts of the coastline disappearing.
- Extreme weather conditions leading to floods, drought and storms around the world.
- Expanding deserts leading to millions of people facing starvation and thirst.
- Extinction of many animal species
- Some experts even think that it could create hurricanes in Britain or even trigger a new ice age.
None of this is pleasant reading but we believe it is real and The Green Insurance Company is committed to helping stop climate change before it is too late.