What are the main perils facing the planet and the human race as we begin a new century?
And much more importantly, what can we do about them?
Climate Change
The overwhelming majority of scientists and governments now accept that human activities are causing changes to the Earth's climate, primarily by the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. By increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere we are magnifying the natural greenhouse effect, and raising the average global temperature.
The average global temperature rose by 0.6 degrees over the last century, with most of this rise in the last few decades. Estimates of the future increase vary between 2 and 6 degrees centigrade by the end of the century. But having a higher average global temperature does not mean that we in the UK will be having a lovely Mediterranean climate in the near future and can all head off the beach - the consequences will be much more unpredictable.
Experts predict more chaotic weather such as hurricanes, storms, high tides, and droughts. We will also see rising sea levels, and the loss of habitats and animals dependent on certain conditions. Many of the impacts of climate change are already being seen around the world.
So what can we do?
Most emissions of carbon dioxide come from burning the fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas. So to reduce these emissions we need to implement energy conservation measures and to turn to renewable sources of power.
See our information pages on energy efficiency for tips on reducing carbon emissions from your home. And once you've got that sorted, you may want to look at the options for making use of renewable energy.
Of course it's not just at home that we can make a difference, as one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide is transport, especially air travel. For advice on reducing the impact of travelling see our transport pages.
Nuclear Power
The nuclear industry is promoting itself as an answer to the problems of climate change. However, it leaves a legacy of highly dangerous radioactive material for thousands of years (how would you feel if the Romans had left such a legacy for us?), and there are the present dangers of low-level emissions from power stations, accidents, pollution and the spread of plutonium for nuclear bombs.
The world's future energy needs can be met by a mix of energy conservation measures and clean, safe renewable energy technologies, phased in as nuclear power is phased out. At a more personal level, see our information pages on energy efficiency for advice on reducing your own electricity needs.
Global inequality
Currently, the policies of rich governments allow the poorest people in the world to be exploited. Big companies act in the interest of their shareholders, and tend to have an institutional indifference to the environmental and social impacts of their activities. Global wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people, in the richest countries, and the gap between rich and poor is widening.
You're likely to be reading this in the UK, and so will be in a much stronger position then most of the world's population. Lobby your politicians about global trade issues, switch your bank account to one that has an ethical investment policy, and buy fair trade food and products. See our low impact living page for more advice on these actions.
