Climate Change

Changes in climate have affected the world, and the distribution and abundance of its plants and animals, throughout time. However, during the 20th century, the rate of warming increased dramatically (significantly exceeding any natural variations in climate over the last 1000 years). This coincided with industrial and social development increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and accelerating what is essentially a natural process. 'Global warming' is being accompanied by changing precipitation patterns and increased frequencies of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and storms. Sea levels are also rising as ice sheets and glaciers melt, and as sea water expands in response to higher temperatures.

 

This trend is set to continue for at least the first half of the 21st century, even if a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases is achieved. It is expected that average global temperatures will rise by between 1.4 and 5.8°C by 2100, depending on future levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

 

An international symposium on the stabilisation of greenhouse gases, held at the Met Office in Exeter in early February 2005, concluded that the risks attached to climate change are more serious than was thought just four years ago (when the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change published its Third Assessment Report). The meeting of leading climate researchers also added that major investment is now needed to mitigate and adapt to the emerging threats. Further information can be found on the conference website: www.stabilisation2005.com .

 

Also, on 16 February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change finally came into force, after seven years of negotiation. This is very much a first step in placing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a firm legal footing, and commits signatories (most industrialised countries, but excluding the USA) to a global reduction of 5.2% on 1990 levels by 2012 (EU 8%; UK 12.5%).

 

Climate change presents a series of important and immediate challenges to nature conservation. There is already clear evidence to show that plants and animals, including those characteristic of the UK's countryside and seas, are being affected by climate change. This includes changes in populations, ranges, migration patterns, and seasonal and reproductive behaviour of certain species. Such effects will become more apparent and extensive as climate continues to change, with local species extinctions and habitat-loss becoming increasingly probable.

 

Through the JNCC, the Inter-Agency Climate Change Group was established to help the JNCC and the UK's statutory nature conservation agencies understand and address the implication of climate change for nature conservation. The group aims to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the UK and Overseas Territories nature conservation and propose actions to accommodate these, either through existing activities or new approaches. Full details of the JNCC's objectives on climate change is set out in the Committee's statement of December 2003.

 

A programme of scientific research is developing 'tools' to make predictions about the responses of species and their habitats under possible future climates. Current or recent projects concerned both with terrestrial and marine environments, and with the UK and its overseas territories, include:

 

Outputs from these projects are providing the scientific basis for a complementary policy programme. This is raising awareness of climate change, and formulating advice and guidance on adapting nature conservation policies and management practices to its impacts.

 

Statement on climate change and nature conservation.
JNCC December 2003
 

Impacts of climate change on wildlife. (PDF, 1891 kb)
Green, RE, Harley, M, Spalding, M & Zöckler, C (eds.) (nd [1999])
RSPB, Sandy.

 

Climate change: some key facts and figures (PDF, 60 kb)
Harley, M (2003)
English Nature, Peterborough.