Understanding The issues. Climate change - Understanding the causes and consequences so you know how to react

Climate is changing. The impacts of climate change will have knock-on effects on our lives and on the planet: access to energy and water, geo-strategic equilibria, population movements, ecosystem changes, etc. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is not enough to stop climate change, or even to slow it down: greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing, gases already emitted are accumulating in the atmosphere and this phenomenon will continue for a long time, beyond 2100 according to the IPCC. How can we deal with this global upheaval? Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital. To do this we must change our behaviour and our way of life. We are also going to have to adapt to the new climate conditions. The two strategies go together, as it will be easier to adapt if we do more to limit the extent of climate change. How do we continue to reduce greenhouse gases and how do we live with a changing climate? This guide contains some strategies. Content: 1 - Climate change: from acknowledgement to action; 2 - Reviewing some key concepts: Understanding what we are talking about; Knowing what the experts say; 3 - Understanding climate change: The greenhouse effect, how does it work? Climate is changing, why? 4 - Understanding the chain of impacts: The physical environment is changing; Impacts on ecosystems; Effects on human societies; 5 - Focus on France: Changes already observed; 21. century forecast; 6 - Strategies for action: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Adapting to a changing climate; 7 - Improving education and understanding: Informing and educating; Finding out more about the effects of climate change; Acting early.