Each of the six case studies written for the ‘Dragon’s Den’ challenge need the same introduction to set the scene for their research. The following should be given to all groups alongside the specific brief for each of the proposed solutions to climate change in the UK. The solutions are as follows:
- Active Travel
- Rewilding
- Land Use: Growing Energy and Fuel
- Land Use: Changing Diets
- Land Use: Changing Farming
- Retrofitting Houses
It is hard to live in the world and not be aware of Global Warming and Climate Change. Global warming is the gradual rise in the earth’s temperature caused by high levels of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some gases in the Earth’s atmosphere stop heat radiating into space from the Earth causing the greenhouse effect.
The main greenhouse gases are methane, water vapour and carbon dioxide which are emitted mainly through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal), solid waste, and trees and wood products. Global warming leads to Climate change which is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet’s weather patterns or average temperatures which is bad news for people and planet .
We are all familiar with the doom and gloom scenarios about what will happen to planet and people as climate change accelerates. The serious impacts on the world’s water systems through more flooding and drought; the impact on agriculture and our capacity to grow food; how rises in sea levels will affect three-quarters of the world’s mega cities which are by the sea and 40% of the world’s people who live within 80 miles of the sea.
What can we do?
First we need to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere – power down.
Second we need to find alternatives to fossil fuels to power our lives -– power up.