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Climate Change Pages

These pages are about the climate change that is being caused by human activities. This is the most important issue that faces us in the world today. They describe what it is, what it means, and what we can do about it: for example you will find an analysis of the Copenhagen Accord and UK emissions targets, to see where we are headed; and a detailed look at what the consequences of this will be for Reading (my home town) compared to the rest of the world. My aim is to give you a complete summary of the issue, whilst presenting you with links to reliable sources of further information.

Last updated: 19 April 2010

There are thousands of sites out there with information about climate change. Lots are filled with information that is either too basic or too detailed and many of them very sensationalist. [i] Most sites also tend to be focused on a specific part of the subject for example: what it is or why it's bad or a dozen thing you can do to fix it. My site aims to be different to these.

Follow this link for information about how these web pages are structured. Notice that I have tried to design the site so that you can read through a summary of each topic, with the ability to delve into more detail about specific points of interest.

About Climate Change - There is a lot of information out there to explain the "climate change issue" to you. The aim of this section can point you in the direction of some reliable and respected sources, so you can add to your knowledge about the subject. I also hopefully answer any concerns that climate sceptics may have, which includes a look at the harsh winter we've just experienced in UK, Northern Europe, China and central USA...but not in the rest of the world, which was actually warmer than normal.

Consequences - The aim of this section is to try and give you a picture of how the world will change through the effects of global warming. There are global consequences from the changing weather patterns, and other associated impacts. What will these mean to you and me? I focus right in on changes we can expect to see in my home town of Reading to help illustrate what climate change will be like. From this you can hopefully get a feel for how much things will change in other parts of the world. Notice that it will make a big difference to the future if we cut down on our emissions now!

Emission Targets - To reduce (i.e. mitigate) the more serious consequences of Climate Change, we must reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases. The UK has an important role in influencing / leading the world by following our emissions reduction targets. This section aims to show what these targets are, where the challenges are and how well we are doing. I start by looking at the outcome of the Copenhagen summit, and what is meant by the targets they discussed. I then move on to discuss the UK emission targets in detail.

Personal Action - We are all part of the global warming problem. We all make and impact: we all have a carbon footprint. We all need to start being part of the solution. This page aims to point you in the direction of some personal changes that you can make to help reduce the impact of climate change. It's partly about what you do in your personal life, the choices you make, the things you do...and don't do. It is also about electing the right leaders and making sure they build the sustainable infrastructure that we need to live in.

Getting Political & working together - Climate change is a hard subject to discuss because, whilst it is so serious and important, I can see that it goes against our basic instincts to actually deal with it. Life is tough enough, and it is in our nature to worry about the day-to-day, rather than what the world will be like in 40 years time. For all of the things that you and I do to help reduce our impact on the atmosphere, we are small fish in a large sea of people. It is obvious that we can't sort all of this out ourselves. However, we can do a lot more if we work together; especially if we make sure that our elected leaders take the issue seriously and make sure it is a political priority to reduce our emissions.

Closing remark & contact details

I hope that you find these pages useful. [i] I have a lot of knowledge about this subject, which is not doing much good locked away in my head. I hope I have managed to do a good enough job of cut through the sensationalism and information overload, to give you something reliable and understandable. I also hope that you get inspired and get fired-up about this. With a bit of passion we can push each other, and the governments that we elect, to sustainably change our lives to reduce the impact of climate change. You know, it really is a beautiful world out there, and it is important that we try and keep it that way!

Thank you for reading this.

Chris Beales

If you have any thoughts about these pages, or useful resources I have missed, please e-mail me contact [@] chrisbeales.net. I apologise in advance if it takes a little while to get back to you but I do really appreciate your interest.

For info: I trained as an environmental scientist, with particular interest in meteorology and modelling; and my day job is as a hydrologist working for the UK Environment Agency. Unfortunately, I have no moral high ground to stand on in this: I know that my own carbon footprint is too big...

Climate Change Pages

Contents

Closing remark & contact details