About climate change
Climate change is generally recognised as one of the biggest issues facing the planet and humankind today.
Activities like burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), cutting down forests and intensifying animal agriculture are releasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into our atmosphere. These GHG emissions act like a blanket and trap heat from the sun in our atmosphere, often referred to as the ‘greenhouse effect’, which warms our planet. A warmer planet leads to more extremes, like droughts, heatwaves, and flooding, happening more often and in more places.
By cutting GHG emissions fast, we can prevent more severe impacts from climate change. All of us can contribute to meeting the targets to keep warming under 1.5°C and cut emissions by 50% by 2030. Every bit of avoided warming, and every tonne of emissions prevented, matters.
Acting now to reduce emissions is key to slowing and stopping changes in our climate that would harm people and nature. Taking action also brings many opportunities and benefits, from better health and wellbeing to reducing costs, now and in future.