Understanding climate change

Rapid Climate Change is caused by human activity and scientific consensus supports this view.

The average temperature at the Earth’s surface has risen by about 1°C since the pre-industrial period, with each of the last three decades being hotter than the previous one.

Climate change is a result of a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, arising from a human activities and a variety of natural processes. Carbon Dioxide levels have increased by approximately 45% since the pre-industrial period. We cannot control the natural processes, but we can control our activities and their emissions that create greenhouse gases.

Find out more about climate change at the United Nations Climate Action website and explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The BBC produced a a short video that explains the science and background to Climate Change:

Everything you need to know about climate change in 90 seconds

The Council takes a responsible approach to its environmental emissions, associated impacts, and obligations. These are managed by the internal Environmental Management System (EMS), Climate Change Strategy, and Carbon Neutral Plan 2030.

The Charnwood Local Plan 2021-37 provides polices to safeguard the environment.

The Biodiversity Planning Guidance was approved by Cabinet on June 9, 2022.

Further information on climate change can be found on the Government website.