8 Climate Change Facts
气候变化的影响正在全世界范围内显现，并以这样或那样的方式对我们所有人产生影响。
If you’re not already looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, these 8 climate change facts might encourage you to take action.
你不必成为一个气候变化积极分子来改变现状，你可以对你的日常生活做很多小的改变，这会大大降低你对环境的影响。
One such way is to install solar panels, which will not only help to reduce the carbon footprint of your home but cut your energy bills too.
什么是气候变化？
Climate change, sometimes known as global warming is a term used to describe the rising global temperature of the planet.
The average global temperature has risen by 1°C since 1880, which might not sound like much but that’s the fastest increase in the history of the Earth.
全球气温上升对环境、动物和人类都产生了严重影响。这些只是气候变化将产生的一些影响：
- Ice caps melting
- Rising sea levels
- Higher chance of flooding
- 海洋温度升高
- 更严重的干旱
- Heat waves
- Increased frequency of wildfires
What’s causing Climate Change?
Human activity since the industrial revolution has seen the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase rapidly. There’s a number of reasons why we’re seeing an increase in global temperatures, including:
- Burning fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil)
- 森林砍伐
- Farming cattle
The burning of fossil fuels is by far the biggest cause of climate change and is done to generate electricity, heat our homes, power transport and much more.In the UK, transport is the sector producing the highest volume of greenhouse gas emissions.
资料来源：商务、能源和工业战略部——2017年最终排放统计
气候变化事实
When it comes to climate change there are some scary facts that show the scale of the problem that the planet is facing.
- 记录大气中的碳含量
- We’re consuming Earth’s resources earlier each year
- 1999: September 29
- 2019: July 19
- 18 of the 19 warmest years on record have been since 2001
- Over 1 million species could go extinct
- 砍伐森林为农业腾出空间
- Oceans becoming more acidic
- Plastic in the oceans
- Oceans are becoming increasingly acidic
- 90% of coral reefs could die
- 到2040年，北极将不再结冰
- Rise in sea levels
- More greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere (ice stores carbon)
- The planet will absorb more heat because sea ice reflects heat away
- Irreversible by 2030
In 2013, levels of carbon in the atmosphere went above 400 parts per million for the first time in recorded history (400,000 years) and the levels continue to rise. The rise has coincided with the industrial revolution, when humans began burning fossil fuels.
这一天被称为地球超量日，是每年人类消耗地球资源（水、木材、食物等）超过地球在12个月内所能生产的日期。每年这个日期都越来越早：
The dates above take into account the consumption habits of every country around the world. If everyone lived how we do in the UK, Earth Overshoot Day would be on May 17th – just over 2 months earlier than the global average.
Other than 1998, all of the hottest years on record have all been recorded in recent years and 2019 is set to be amongst the hottest too. This temperature rise has coincided with the increased amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Things are only going to get hotter.
As the human population continues to grow, we’re taking up more and more space on the planet, moving nature out of our way as we do so.
The oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which helps to maintain a healthy balance. However, as the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has increased so has the amount being absorbed by the ocean.
二氧化碳与海水发生反应，使海水呈酸性，大气中的碳越多，我们的海洋酸性就越强，这对海洋生物是一个真正的威胁。
如果这还不够的话，每分钟就有一卡车塑料被倾倒到海里。塑料给海洋生物带来困惑，因为它们把塑料当成食物，导致窒息。然后塑料就开始工作了，它就在食物链的上游，一直到你的盘子里。
更糟糕的是，微型塑料，长度不超过5毫米的塑料，已经进入了自来水。Orb的一项研究测试了世界各地的家庭自来水样本，发现英国72%的自来水被塑料纤维污染。
珊瑚礁不仅是100多万种不同种类植物和野生动物的家园，还保护100多个国家免受海岸侵蚀。有些国家甚至建在珊瑚礁上，没有珊瑚礁就不可能存在。
A coral reefs acts as a buffer, absorbing energy from waves before they reach the coastline, which helps to reduce coastal erosion and potential damage to properties. They’re also an effective barrier when it comes to storms and floods too.
Oceans absorb carbon from the atmosphere but the level of carbon has increased to a point where it’s causing the temperature of the water to rise and making it more acidic too. As a result, the algae, which makes coral reefs look so bright and vibrant, is turning white, a process known as ‘coral bleaching’.
Coral bleaching weakens the coral reef and makes the land more susceptible to the effects of strong waves, brutal storms and flooding.
很难想象北极没有冰，但这可能在2040年成为现实。只有21年了。
随着全球气温的升高，北极的冰层迅速缩小，这不仅会影响生活在那里的依赖冰的动物，还会影响整个地球：
直到去年我们保存可能最可怕的事实。Unless dramatic changes are made in the next few years, all of the effects of climate change (including the ones we’ve listed above) could be irreversible.
In a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it’s stated that global net human carbon emissions need to drop by 45% compared to 2010 levels by 2030.
截至发稿时，2030年离我们只有11年的时间了，虽然时间并不长，但对你来说，还是有足够的时间来改变你的日常生活，真正有助于减少对环境的影响。
“We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet.” General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés.
Climate Change Solutions
The UK is targeting ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050, which means that the carbon footprint of the UK will be neutral. Many believe that 2050 is much too late and more needs to be done sooner to prevent irreversible impacts on our planet.
A global temperature rise of only 2°C could have a detrimental impact on the planet and is why countries agreed to the Paris Climate Change Act, which commits nations to limiting the increase to 1.5°C.
As the table below shows, a difference of half a degree is much more significant than it might seem.
| 增加了1.5°C | 增加2°C | |
| Availability of freshwater in the Mediterranean | Down by 9% | 下降17% |
| Heavy rainfall (intensity increase) | 5% rise | 7% rise |
| Sea level rise | 40厘米 | 50cm |
| Coral bleaching | 90%有风险 | 98% at risk |
| Heatwaves | Up to 1.1 months of the year | 1.5months of the year |
| Wheat production | Down by 9% | 下降16% |
So, what can you do to help tackle climate change?
Use more sustainable forms of transport
The damage that petrol and diesel fueled cars have on our planet is of increasing concern for many drivers. However, driving a car is part of everyday life for many but there are some alternatives:
- Travel by public transport
- Cycle
- Invest in an electric car (EV)
Electric cars have become much more affordable in recent years, so it’s now much easier to make the switch from petrol or diesel. Advancements in the performance, mileage capabilities and overall looks too have made them much more desirable.
另外，拥有太阳能光伏系统的酒店可以使用免费的可再生能源为电动汽车充电，帮助您节省加油成本。
我们比较了Best Electric Carsin the UK to help you find the right one for your home.
Eat less red meat and dairy
United Nations (UN) experts have said that switching to a plant-based diet can really help the fight against climate change.
这并不意味着一夜之间要吃素，但减少饮食中红肉和奶制品的数量将大大减少你的碳足迹：
- Food is responsible for 26% of all greenhouse emissions
- 其中58%来自动物产品
- 50%的动物产品排放来自牛肉和羊肉
Source: Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers, Poore and Nemeck
Cattle farming is one of the root causes of deforestation. As demand for red meat and dairy increases, so does the need for land, which is seeing large amounts of forest cut down so that the land can be used for farming. These trees are not only natural habitats of wildlife but also absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
避免一次性使用塑料
Plastic has become an almost unavoidable part of modern life – it’s used to carry shopping, water is sold in it and it’s even used in some tea bags!
携带一个可重复充装的水瓶，选择未包装的水果和蔬菜，改用肥皂和洗发水棒，将减少你家中产生的塑料垃圾量。
Turn to renewable energy
The sun provides the Earth with more energy every hour than humans use in an entire year so it doesn’t quite add up that we rely so heavily on fossil fuels.
In the UK, the vast majority of electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, which is a highly carbon intensive process – double the emissions of natural gas production in fact (0.519kg of CO2 per kWh compared to 0.216kg of CO2 per kWh).
尽管越来越多的可再生能源供应商向英国房主提供风能和太阳能发电，但它们的电价可能相当高。那么，为什么不自己动手呢？
Installing a solar PV system comes with an initial upfront cost but once installed, your home will be powered by free renewable energy and theAPP亚博娱乐 offer more than reducing your carbon footprint:
- Reduces the reliance you have on your energy supplier
- Cut your energy bills
- Zero running costs
- Need very little maintenance
- 寿命长达20-25年
- 可以增加你的财产价值
- Charge an electric vehicle for free
- Receive government payments through the智能出口担保（SEG）from January 2020
If the benefits of solar panels appeal to you then take a few moments to complete our simple online form to get free installation quotes from up to 3 solar panel installers based in your area.
Comparing multiple quotes will give you the best chance of finding the most competitive installation price – meaning that you’ll potentially see a return on your investment much sooner.
