Little Green Space
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Little Green Space |
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Why is this important? |
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Habitat Loss The last 50 years have seen changes unique in human history. Some changes have been positive - but for the environment many have been disastrous. This is bad for wildlife and bad for people. Many of the UK's habitats and ecosystems are under serious threat from urbanisation, pollution and intensive farming methods involving chemicals and pesticides. Since the Second World War, for example, in the UK we have lost some 95% of our wildflower meadows, and 50% of our lowland woods. Agricultural land is frequently managed in a way that is detrimental to wildlife and does little for the environment. Wildflower meadows have disappeared on a vast scale. The farming of land right to the edges of fields, and the removal of walls or hedges, leaves wildlife with nowhere to go. Pesticides and chemicals have devastating effects on wildlife populations. As habitats shrink and disappear, the wildlife that they support shrinks and disappears too. There is a huge impact on people as well - clean, healthy, natural environments are essential for the mental and physical well-being of ourselves and our children, and have huge recreational and educational benefits. Click here to find out how you can create your own little green space. |
Climate Change
Climate change is an unprecedented global threat to wildlife and mankind. It is being caused by global warming, which is a result of increased levels of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane are the main culprits) in our atmosphere. Although greenhouse gas levels have been stable for thousands of years, they have risen steeply over the past century. Much of this is due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil which releases carbon dioxide. Climate change is already causing heatwaves, droughts, floods, famines, extreme weather events, changes in animal migration patterns, altered seasons and the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts rises of 1.8 to 6.4 degrees centigrade this century, depending on how much fossil fuel is used. Rises at the lower end of this range could have terrible impacts for millions, while a rise of 6 degrees centigrade is a nightmare scenario with humanity's survival in question. The IPCC's best guess is a rise of 4 degrees centigrade. International and national action is crucial - but individual and community actions together make a big difference and also send a strong message to those in power. Click here for ten things you can do to tackle climate change. |
Peak Oil
Peak Oil is the point at which maximum global oil production is reached. It is not about running out of oil - there will always be oil left in the ground that is too difficult or too uneconomical to extract. Peak Oil is about running out of cheap, plentiful and easy-to-get oil. Once the peak is reached, oil production will begin to decline. Oil will become increasingly expensive and we will begin to go into energy decline. Because excessive use of fossil fuels lies at the heart of both peak oil and climate change, many of the solutions are the same. By reducing your carbon footprint you will be helping to combat climate change as well as becoming less dependent on oil. |
