‘Read about SEPA’s Climate Change Plan for 2008 – 2012 here

The Scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks and it demands an urgent global response.’
STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change, October 2006

Climate change is happening. There is mounting evidence of fundamental alterations to the key elements of our climate system as a result of human activities. Left unchecked these changes will accelerate, with significant consequences for our environment, economy and society.

The pace and signs of climate change varies across the globe, but eventually everyone will be affected, directly or indirectly by climate change. Flooding and drought are obvious direct threats which can have indirect impacts  such as higher food prices as a result of crop damage.

One of the most iconic images of climate change is the collapse of ice-shelves in the polar regions, but there is evidence of change across the globe; including melting glaciers, dramatic shifts in the range and abundance of plants and animal and noticeable changes in the length and pattern of the seasons.

In Scotland, climate change is evident from observed changes in temperature, rainfall and snow cover. These changes are causing significant shifts in the growing, breeding and migration seasons, as well as species abundance and diversity.  Higher river flows are leading to flood risks and sea level rise is causing coastal erosion.

Left unchecked, climate change will accelerate. The use of fossil fuels, a growing demand for energy and increased deforestation will escalate emissions of carbon dioxide to potentially irreversible levels. Uncertainties in the scientific understanding of global warming do not warrant a ‘wait and see’ attitude and there is much that we can do now that makes both environmental and economic sense.

Scotland and other developed countries must seize the opportunity to take the lead in:

• developing new, clean, energy-efficient technologies;
• helping developing countries take a greener path to economic prosperity; and
• adopting adaptation measures to improve our resilience to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

All of this can be done in a cost-effective manner that will create business and employment opportunities and improve our health and wellbeing.

Some hot points for the UK from the Met Office

• The winter of 2006 – 2007 was the UK's second-hottest ever
• Autumn 2006 was the hottest on record
• July 2006 was Britain's hottest ever month
• Hottest ever 12-month period: 31 April 2006 to 1 May 2007 (with a provisional average temperature of 10.4°C)
• Previous hottest 12 month period: 31 March 1997 to 1 April 1998 (9.7°C)

Confused by conflicting accounts of climate change in the media and press? Read about some climate change myths here >>>

Responses to the Channel 4 Film 'The Great Global Warming Swindle'