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If we hope to combat climate change, concerted efforts will need to be made both locally and internationally, by governments, public agencies, businesses, industries, communities and individuals.
We have the technology and ingenuity to minimise the threat of human-induced climate change now. Reducing our impact on the global climate does not have to hurt economically. In fact, according to the Stern Review, failure to curb emissions will eventually disrupt domestic and global economies.
The challenge is to strike a balance between responding early enough to prevent major impacts, and avoiding inappropriate steps that are ineffective and expensive.
 There are a number of options available to help us minimise (mitigate) emissions of greenhouse gases, and stabilise atmospheric concentrations. These include:
- energy efficiency improvements;
- adopting less carbon-intensive fuels and renewable energy;
- enhancing biological sinks;
- carbon capture and storage.
Carbon and Capture Storage has the potential to reduce overall mitigation costs and increase flexibility in achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has produced a Special Report on Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage
By improving energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy and adopting sustainable transport and building practices, we can reduce our contribution to climate change while creating a stronger, healthier, and more secure nation.
‘We need to ensure that decisions for the future made at all levels of society – by individuals, local councils, public bodies, national governments, the international organisations – take full recognition of the ‘climate change footprint’ of those decisions. Will this decision help minimise the rate of climate change? Will this decision help maximise our resilience to climate change? We need to be alert to this new way of thinking not just for today and tomorrow – but for generations to come.’
Professor Mike Hulme
Director of the Tyndall Centre
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