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While the climate has changed throughout Earth's history, the change we're seeing today is unique in its speed and severity. There is a scientific consensus that this is caused by human activity.
Our industries and lifestyles release more carbon into the atmosphere than the natural world can cope with. The impact this has on climate is already making our world a more hostile place to live.
We call this a 'climate emergency' to reflect the urgent action needed from governments, companies and individuals to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
The more the more the climate changes, the harder it will be to access the food, shelter, and water we need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. The disadvantaged communities the VCSE sector works with are especially vulnerable to these impacts. We have a duty to take action now, for the communities of today and of the future.
But climate action also provides us with opportunities. By reducing pollution, increasing access to nature, and living more sustainably, we will make our society healthier, happier, and fairer.
The term Net Zero refers to balancing the amount of carbon dioxide we produce with the amount that we remove from the atmosphere. By keeping this close to zero, we make sure that we're having the smallest negative impact on the environment possible. This is an important first step towards a healthier planet.
This refers to the release of carbon into the atmosphere. In the form of carbon dioxide gas, it's very effective at keeping heat inside the atmosphere. This is why it's called a 'greenhouse gas', as it makes the planet more like a hot greenhouse. There are lots of different greenhouse gases, but carbon is the most common and well-known.
Carbon has been trapped underground for millions of years in the form of fossil fuels. By digging these fuels up and burning them for energy, transport, and industry, we're releasing millions of years of stored-up carbon, which the natural world can't process quickly enough to stop the greenhouse effect.
We all create carbon emissions, either as individuals or organisations. We rely on fossil fuels to heat where we live and work, to travel, and to create the things we buy and use. The annual amount of emissions a person or organisation creates is their carbon footprint.
Going Green Together was created to make climate action accessible for people and organisations working in the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. We want you to feel knowledgeable and confident about the causes of climate change, and how to take action. Look at the links below to find out how we can help you to learn more and to take action.
