According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in less than 8 years’ time we pass the tipping point of no return. Act now, before it’s too late.
If we stay silent and things carry on as they are, by December 2016 concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere will have begun to exceed the level where we can avert irreversible climate change. Irreversible unless we act now »
What’s worse is, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognises that, at this point, there’s only a small chance of stabilising the earth’s temperature at 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. This is the maximum increase in global temperature we can handle before catastrophic global warming is a reality.
So, according to the most respected climate scientists, if we do not act now, less than 90 months from now, it will be too late.
Rising sea levels
Sea levels are expected to rise by between 20 and 60cm by the end of the century putting the lives and livelihoods of millions of at risk.
Food shortage and disease
Climate change will cause reduced crop yields and increase the spread of disease, which could see an additional 290 million people exposed to malaria by 2080.
Severe water shortages
People's lives will be at greater risk from an increased frequency of droughts and flooding, with up to additional three billion people suffering increased water stress by 2080. Most climate models predict that the South East of England will become especially vulnerable to water shortages as soon as 2030.
Flooding in poor countries
80 million more people are projected to be at risk of flooding – 80% of whom live in the world’s poorest countries.
Loss of tropical forests
By the 2070s, reduced rainfall and increased temperatures will eradicate much of our tropical forests. This will hasten already severe climate change even further.
Why?
Because global vegetation, which currently absorbs carbon dioxide at the rate of some 2-3 gigatonnes of carbon (GtC) per year, will become a carbon source, generating about 2 GtC per year by the 2070s – further adding to carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere.
(Current global man-made emissions are about 6-7 GtC per year).
Major global destabilisation
According to Professor John Beddington, the UK government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, the key impacts of climate change see the world heading towards a 'perfect storm'. He predicts that food, water and energy shortages will unleash mass migration, public unrest and international conflict.
But surely the government will do something?
They haven’t yet. And that’s because people like us haven’t told them how important it is to us.
For us it’s more than an inconvenient truth. The reality is, we didn’t cause this mess but we have to fix it. If we don’t safeguard our planet’s future, there’ll be nothing and no one left to save.
Isn’t it too late?
No. Through small and simple changes, we can make a big impact.
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Why us?
Because this is our century, and we need to run with it as if our lives depend on it. Because they do. All it takes for catastrophe is apathy. All it takes for change is action.
It’s time for our generation to rise up. It’s time to Be That Change.