Climate change The facts and what you can do

What you need to know about climate change — and how we can stop it

Anyone can tell that the weather is getting wilder and affecting us all. From floods in the UK to droughts, storms and sea-level rise displacing millions of the world's poorest people. Climate change is happening now.

Yet there are clear signs of hope.

The tide is turning faster than many politicians realise — as more and more people join together to take action.

Take Climate Action

Hope in the fight against climate change

The switch to renewable energy is happening at breathtaking speed.

A global movement of ordinary people is achieving extraordinary things in the fight to protect our planet.

And almost every country in the world has committed to limit global warming — by signing the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Now the world needs a clear plan to reach that goal.

Sign climate petition

Take Climate Action

Climate Action groups are the local solution to a global crisis.

Right now people just like you are coming together to make their towns and cities more climate-friendly.

Are you ready to join them?

Join the network

What you can do about climate change

Climate solutions graphic on Transport, showing public transport solutions to climate change

Responsible travel:
eco tips for getting around

Take fewer long-haul flights – and use the train instead of the plane for shorter journeys.

Responsible travel:
eco tips for getting around

Take fewer long-haul flights – and use the train instead of the plane for shorter journeys.

Climate solutions graphic on power, showing power solutions to climate change

Saving energy at home:
heating and insulation

Get solar panels and keep heating below 18°C.

Saving energy at home:
heating and insulation

Get solar panels and keep heating below 18°C.

Climate solutions graphic on Buildings, showing high-rise buildings

Saving energy at home:
heating and insulation

Install roof insulation and low-carbon heating.

Saving energy at home:
heating and insulation

Install roof insulation and low-carbon heating.

Climate solutions graphic on agriculture, showing a tractor and a cow

What to eat
Food and the environment

Eat less and better meat and dairy – and avoid products that contain palm oil.

What to eat
Food and the environment

Eat less and better meat and dairy – and avoid products that contain palm oil.

Climate solutions graphic on Infrastructure and Planning, showing Theresa May and the Houses of Parliament

Sign climate petition

Support our Climate Action Plan.

Sign climate petition

Support our Climate Action Plan.

Climate solutions graphic on International Justice, showing weighing scales of justice and the world divided into unequal segments

Sign climate petition

Tell the government to pay its fair share to protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of climate change.

Sign climate petition

Tell the government to pay its fair share to protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of climate change.

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Who does climate change affect?

Climate change is devastating people's lives all over the world. With drought, storms, floods, crop damage and sea-level rise, millions are fleeing their homes. And it's the world’s poorest who are hardest hit.

The UN Refugee Agency says climate change adds to many of today’s conflicts — from Darfur to Somalia to Iraq and Syria.

The effects will get worse as temperatures rise further. So we must cut greenhouse gas emissions to stop temperatures rising.

People also need protection from the climate change we can no longer avoid. That means financial support for developing countries and legal protection for climate refugees.

What causes climate change?

Our planet is warmer now than at any point in the past 800,000 years, and heating fast. This is mainly a result of the huge increase in the amount of coal, oil and gas we’ve been burning since the industrial revolution, pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Other things contribute too, such as deforestation, which means trees absorb less of these gases; and other greenhouse gases such as methane from cows.

Photo: Dikaseva

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My money can make a difference donate to protect the climate

Our Climate Action Plan

We want communities where children can play outside and breathe clean air; warm homes that don’t cost the earth to heat; access to nature wherever we live; better food that’s good for us; and greener jobs for everyone.

That’s why we’re calling on the UK government to urgently adopt our Climate Action Plan.

Find out more