Climate change strategy 2022

The need for change

The Earth's climate has changed throughout history but the current warming trend is of particular significance. This is because the evidence shows it is the result of human activity since the mid 20th century and the speed of change is unprecedented over thousands of years.

The evidence of rapid climate change:

• the planet's average surface temperature has risen about 1.18 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and other human activity
• most of the warming occurred in the past forty years, with the seven most recent years being the warmest. The years 2016 and 2020 are tied for the warmest year on record
• the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have shrunk. Data from NASA shows Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tons of ice per year
• global sea level rose about 20 centimetres in the last century. The rate in the last two decades is nearly double that of the last century, and the rate is accelerating year by year

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 countries at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. COP26 was held in 2021, with a goal to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels during COP26. The Glasgow Climate Pact and The Paris Rule book were agreed and included tighter deadlines for updating strategies to reduce emissions.

To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries need to start reducing greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible in order to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.

Climate change is happening, and it is everyone's responsibility to act.

Cost of living crisis 

Rising costs are affecting us all and making things difficult for many people in Gateshead. There are many ways that tackling climate change can also help with the cost of living such as, making sure our homes are draft free, walking instead of taking the car, or making sure no food goes to waste. It is important that we maximise opportunities to help people thrive, whilst also tackling climate change and acknowledge that some changes will be unaffordable to many at this current time.