Latest News

Why we should care: Climate Change facts and statistics

2022 and 2023 were the hottest years on record in the UK, and 2024 became the first year on record to surpass the 1.5°c global warming limit. These concerning statistics demonstrate the need for immediate action in addressing the climate crisis.

Economy:

Climate change can increase the cost of living. Environmental changes impact the availability of some resources, leading to an increase in their prices.

As fossil fuels run out, their costs increase as competition for access grows. At the current rate of extraction, oil and natural gas reserves are anticipated to run out in the late 2060s. This is one of the many reasons we need more renewable energy sources. The energy industry is responsible for three quarters of emissions responsible for global warming since the pre-industrial age, showing how damaging fossil fuels are.

Health:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity. They anticipate a quarter of a million additional deaths stemming from climate change each year between 2030 and 2050.

Climate Clock:

The Climate Clock advocates for urgent action in addressing the climate crisis. By their estimates, we have until July 2029 to limit global warming to the target of 1.5°c.

Wildlife:

Climate change impacts plants and animals negatively. Drought is the biggest concern within UK animal conservation, as British species are adapted to need access to water all year round.

NASA states that sea levels have risen about eight inches globally since 1900, two of which were in the last two decades alone, and this rise appears to be accelerating. Rising sea levels occur when ice melts on the land and runs into the sea. This endangers not only humans and animals reliant on the ice caps, but also land-based civilisations vulnerable to high sea levels and natural disasters.

The warming temperatures of the oceans are also extremely dangerous; they impact supply chains and livelihoods, as well as the oceanic biodiversity. For example, fish struggle to survive in warmer waters, and the loss of fish reduces the availability of this food resource to humans.

COP28:

COP28 was held in Dubai in December 2023, and agreed on international climate action goals. It emphasised the need to ramp up efforts to limit temperature rises to below 1.5°c, across a 20-year average, since pre-industrial times.

COP29:

COP29, held in Baku in November 2024, focused on climate finance, especially for developing countries. It agreed to triple the finance provided by developed countries to developing countries from USD 100 billion to USD 300 billion annually by 2035. The UK and Brazil both agreed to ramp up climate action in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with Sir Keir Starmer aiming for 81% emissions cut by 2035.

Author: Phoebe Winter, Mayor’s Green Skills Academy Coordinator for Local London. This information comes from our Mayoral Academy Green Skills prospectus, which will be published in early February 2025.

Share!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
E-NEWSLETTER
Please tick here to confirm you’re happy for us to use your information to provide you with information about the Local London Skills Providers. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy