What is climate change
The Earth lies in a delicate balance between the searing surface of the sun and the bitter cold expanse of deep space. Our planet is surrounded by a blanket of gases that keep us snug and warm and sustain life as we know it. Over the past 100 years this blanket has become thicker because of the release of ‘greenhouse gases’ in the atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels like coal and oil.
The most significant of these gases is carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon – in combination with other elements – is the basis for life on Earth. Unfortunately, through the burning of fossil fuels, too much CO2 is entering the atmosphere. This is trapping the heat which would normally be released back into space and is causing our planet to heat up.
Our everyday energy use is adding to this build up of CO2. Every time we use fossil fuels to heat our homes, to drive a car, watch TV or surf the Internet we are releasing CO2 into our atmosphere. Temperature increase is inevitable - but scientists agree we must keep the average global temperature rise to less than 2°C if we are to avoid the most dramatic and far-reaching impacts of climate change. 
The greenhouse effect
1. Energy from the sun enters our atmosphere, passing through the blanket of gases that surround the Earth.
2. As it reaches the Earth’s surface, much of the sun’s energy is absorbed by our planet’s land, water and biosphere.
3. Some of this energy is radiated back into space.
4. The rest of the energy is trapped in our atmosphere – and this is known as ‘the greenhouse effect’.
