Climate change

It is impossible to avoid the issue of climate change, because of the huge impact it has on us and we have on it.  The amount of media coverage it receives is also growing.

The Kyoto Protocol, a global agreement aiming to curb emissions blamed for global warming, has come into force seven years after it was agreed! Not all countries have signed up to Kyoto, but the UK is one of them. This means that the UK has agreed to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

The UK has set ambitious targets for how it is going to do this, although most agree that meeting these goals is going to be very difficult.

This issue of UKinfocus looks at climate change from the UK perspective. How do cities like London contribute to, and help find solutions for, the impacts of climate change? How can individuals play their part and lessen their impact on the environment? The options span getting involved in large scale campaigns, making small changes, such as buying energy saving light bulbs, or making bigger changes such as installing solar panels to heat water for their homes.

The following articles have accompanying language activities: Global Warning?, Climate and the City: London, What can you do?, and Sunlight Energy.

For more information about the role the UK plays in the global challenge of climate change go to the British Council Science pages.

Bern Manifesto: 50 young scientists and young leaders from Bangladesh, Switzerland, the UK and the United States met in Switzerland to discuss the impact of climate change on the cities we live in  - and what we can do about it. Download their manifesto (PDF file 3.57 MB)

British Council Science

LearnEnglish Science

ZeroCarbonCity

ZeroCarbonCity is a British Council global campaign looking at the role of cities in the climate change debate. Find out how you can get involved.

Be challenged

Try some of these websites to learn something, challenge your contribution to the environment, or just have fun!

Global warning?
Climate change poses a serious threat. Get the basic facts on why this is, what the impacts might be and how the UK is affected.

Climate and the city: London
Cities will play an important role in the impacts of climate change and the solutions found. We use London to show the role cities around the world might play.

What can you do?
You can play a big part in how the impacts of climate change are tackled. Find out how to adjust your lifestyle to lessen your impact on your environment.

Sunlight energy
Although the UK lags behind some other countries in the use of solar power, tens of thousands of homes are using the sun to heat their water. Nicky and Sal tell us why they chose 'sunlight energy'.

From sheep farm to wind farm
Sheep farmers in Wales have branched out into wind farming, to great success.

What’s happening at national level?
Research, government policy and organisations all play a part in what the UK is doing about climate change. Here are just a few of those involved.

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