Climate change in brief

Ever since the industrial revolution humankind has been emitting vast quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As a result, there has been more than one-third rise in carbon dioxide concentrations since the Industrial Revolution, from 280 to more than 380 parts per million.

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are now higher than modern humans have ever experienced and they are very likely to increase further, to between 540 and 970ppm by 2100, unless action is taken to reduce emissions. This would lead to warming of two to six degrees over the next 100 years.

As a result, climate in the future will cause stress to areas that have previously escaped, and in many parts of the world there is also predicted to be an increase in the intensity of severe weather events.