"The best chance we have": the Paris Agreement on climate change

US President Barack Obama described the deal reached last Saturday by the 195 nations represented at the talks as "the best chance we have to save ...

'Climate Strike' is Word of the Year

Talking of single use, Dutch brewing company Heineken has today announced that it will be replacing single use plastic can toppers used on its mult...

'Code Red' for humanity

The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published today has made it absolutely clear that human activities are ca...

2010s likely to be hottest decade on record

The report found that global temperatures for 2010 to 2019 were about 1.1C above the pre-Industrial average.  Meanwhile, 2019 looks set to be the s...

2014 warmest year on record

This means that 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred since the year 2000.  This serves as further confirmation that human emissions o...

2015 is warmest year ever recorded

Data collected by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed that the global average temperature was 0.13C warmer t...

2016 set to be hottest year on record

A report published by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) was published at the Marrakech global climate summit yesterday.  It says that the...

2016 was hottest year for almost 113,000 years

Proper records of global temperatures only stretch back to 1880, but the results of scientific research show that the planet was last this warm aro...

2017 set to be in top 3 hottest years on record

Average global temperatures for the first nine months of 2017 were 1.1C above pre-industrial levels, not as warm as the same period in 2016, when t...

2019 confirmed as second hottest year on record

Whilst data from instruments only stretches back to 1850, data from ice cores taken from Greenland and Antarctica show that the world has not been ...

2019 was greenest year for UK energy

According to a new report by the Carbon Brief website, renewable energy from solar, wind, hydro and biomass produced more electricity than fossil f...

8 billion humans and counting…

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  has stated that population growth, along with increases in gross domestic product (GDP) are t...

A book that could make a difference

But there are now a growing number of economists and commentators who are starting to think that prosperity and growth are not infinitely linked.  ...

Action needed to prevent climate catastrophe

In the Paris agreement of 2015, the world’s governments pledged to keep temperatures between 1.5C and 2C above pre-Industrial levels, so this new s...

All of Google to be powered by renewable energy from 2017 onwards

The company, which has 60,000 staff worldwide is already the world's largest corporate buyer of renewable energy.  In 2015, Google bought 5.7 teraw...

Are we now living in the Anthropocene?

The geological time of our planet is divided up into epochs.  You will have no doubt have heard of Jurassic Park.  Well, the Jurassic ran from 200 ...

Artic sea ice covers second lowest area on record

The reduction in summer sea ice in the Arctic is seen by scientists as a strong indicator of how climate change is accelerating.  All of the lowest...

Australia braced for worsening bushfires this week

Temperatures are expected to reach 37C tomorrow, and with strong winds blowing, there are fears that the fires will continue to spread.  A long run...

Bags for life increase plastic waste and other stories

However, some of the additional weight of plastic also comes from 'food to go', like the sandwiches, cakes, crisps and fruit bought at lunch times....

Ban on fracking lifted in England

Some 120 tremors were recorded in 2019 at Cuadrilla's exploratory fracking site in Lancashire, but most of these were too small to be felt. The ...

Ban on petrol and diesel cars brought forward

He called on other countries around the world to pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as the UK prepares to host the UN's talks on cl...

Big global temperature increase in February

The previous record - an increase of 1.15C on the long-term average for that month- was recorded in January 2016!  Some of this increase can be exp...

Big increase in Europe's renewable energy

This compared well with 2013, when 15% of the continent's energy came from renewable sources.  Energy from renewable sources is quite unevenly spre...

British electricity greenest ever on Easter Monday

The National Grid Electricity System Operator has reported that at 1300BST on Easter Monday, each unit of energy consumed created just 39g of carbo...

COP25 climate change talks open in Madrid

Ahead of the meeting, UN Secretary General António Guterres said, "In the crucial 12 months ahead, it is essential that we secure more ambitious na...

COP26 underway in Glasgow

World leaders, who have gathered in Glasgow for the conference have already heard impassioned speeches from United Nations Secretary General Antoni...

COP28 begins in Dubai

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN climate convention has already outlined ambitious targets for international leaders: "They must agree ...

Calling young writers

At YPTE, we would like to start giving young people the chance to have their voices heard about environmental issues.  So from now on, we'll be pub...

Central banks warn on climate change risks

Their letter coincides with the launch of a report from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a group of 34 international central b...

China to go carbon neutral by 2060

With China currently the world's biggest carbon emitter, responsible for 28% of the world's emissions, this is a big deal.  Speaking by videolink, ...

Climate Change

The earth's climate has seen many changes in its 4.55 billion years. Now many people believe that we must act fast to avert climate catastrophe.

Climate Change

An introduction to climate change for use in the classroom.  Recommended for Years 5-9.

Climate Change Assembly

An assembly about climate change, exploring: The difference between weather and climate What climate change is and why it's happening The...

Climate Change In a Bottle: How to set up the experiment

A video explaining how to set up the climate change experiment included in YPTE's lesson plan suite about climate change.  Video created and presen...

Climate Change Update Part 1

The last time Conservation Education looked at the subject of climate change was in 2006.  In the last nine years, like the climate, some of the th...

Climate Change Update Part 3

The problem is already here In recent years, we have seen Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, superstorm Sandy hit New York, New Jersey ...

Climate Change and Animals

This factsheet takes a look at some of the challenges that animals might have to face in the future.  How does climate change affect them?

Climate Change for Parents: The Facts

It's really important that you've come here, because we need lots more people to realise the scale of what we are facing and get involved in creati...

Climate Change for Parents: What you can do at home

You've got here because you're interested in how you can help cut your carbon emissions and tackle climate change.  There are lots of small ways th...

Climate Change for parents

A simple leaflet for parents explaining climate change and providing links to further information.

Climate Change update Part 2

Why are they called ‘fossil’ fuels? Around 165 million years ago, vast numbers of little animals and plants called plankton lived in the world’s...

Climate campaigners walk out of talks

It just two weeks since Typhoon Haiyan caused enormous devastation and thousands of deaths in the Philippines in the latest example of extreme weat...

Climate change

The fact that human activities are increasing the rate of climate change is now almost universally accepted by scientists.  In this suite of lesson...

Climate change already happening says IPCC

So what did the report say?  Well, quite a lot actually!  Even the Summary is 43 pages long!  Its main points are: that we live in a world where cl...

Climate change among biggest threats to the world's children

The Commission's report finds that whilst there have been dramatic improvements in survival, nutrition and education in recent decades, today's chi...

Climate change is bringing humans and wildlife into conflict

The study, published in Nature Climate Change cited examples 49 of climate-driven conflicts occurring among all wildlife groups, on every continent...

Climate change update

The Bank of England has said that up to £16 trillion of assets could be wiped out if the current climate emergency is not tackled effectively by bu...

Climate change update 2022.1

New data from the EU's Copernicus satellite system is showing that the last seven years have been the hottest on record, with 2021 in at number 5 i...

Climate emergency declared by over 11,000 scientists

It is now exactly 40 years since scientists from 50 nations met in Geneva, Switzerland, for the First World Climate Conference.  They agreed then t...

Climate strikes held by students in 100 countries

Here in the UK, some 10,000 young people gathered in Parliament Square, London to demand action.  Environment Secretary Michael Gove praised their ...

Climate talks end without new commitments to emissions cuts

So whilst the talks were a partial success, they were also in part a failure.  With no significant movement in countries’ agreed targets for emissi...

Coal more expensive than renewables in most of USA

Renewables now account for about 17% of energy generation in the USA, but there is huge potential for renewables to replace coal and provide much c...

Cold Areas: Antarctica

This suite of lesson plans explores the continent of Antarctica.  Designed to be used alongside the Powerpoint presentation, packed full of stunnin...

Cold Areas: The Arctic

This set of lesson plans explores the Arctic - one of the coldest regions on our planet.  The accompanying Powerpoint presentation brings the Arcti...

Conservation Education 13 - Energy

The Young People’s Trust for the Environment is delighted to announce that its residential Environmental Discovery Courses will be available in 200...

Conservation Education 16 - Climate Change

Do you like Polar Bears? Well every time you switch on the light you are probably helping them... to become extinct.

Conservation Education 19 - Alternative Energies

“Switch off the lights when you leave the room!”, “Turn the TV off standby!”, “Who left the computer on all night?” Does this all sound rather fami...

Conservation Education 21 - Wildlife and Climate Change

20,000 years ago the landscape looked very different. Wooly mammoths and sabre toothed tigers roamed the frozen earth - it was of course the ice ag...

Conservation Education 22 - Weather

Britain is famous for its changeable weather. We are always talking about it and there is a saying “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minute...

Conservation Education 28 - Shale Gas and Fracking

There has been a lot of coverage in the news recently about a controversial technique for extracting gas and oil from underground.

Conservation Education 29 - Climate Change Update

A fresh look at climate change, a subject we last looked at for Conservation Education in 2006. Banner photo by Al Case.

Conservation Education 31 - El Nino

Find out more about the 2015-16 El Nino event, what it is and what effects it causes around the world. Photo by Naz Amir.

Cop27 ends with new fund for loss and damage

The record rainfall that was seen in Pakistan earlier this year brought about catastrophic flooding that impacted 33 million people in the country ...

December 2015 is wettest month on record

The series of storms to hit the UK this December were propelled by the jet stream, a current of strong winds that can reach up to 200mph.  The jet ...

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon highest in 15 years

Only last week at COP26 in Glasgow, Brazil was among a group of over 100 countries that pledged to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.  Brazil h...

Ecocide

It is against the law to steal from or hurt other people, and it is against the law to kill another person.  However, it is not currently against t...

Electric Cars

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular.  In this factsheet we explore why.

Electric airliners in service within a decade

It has formed a partnership with Wright Electric, a US firm which is developing a battery-powered aircraft for use on flights lasting two hours or ...

Emissions from wildfires in the arctic increase by 35%, but UK emissions from electricity fall

At their peak, which occurred in late July 2020, there were around 600 wildfires burning in the Arctic, compared with 400 in 2019 and the average f...

European Parliament declares climate emergency

In a separate vote, MEPs backed a resolution stating that the EU's current emissions reduction targets were 'not in line' with the 2015 Paris clima...

First ever legislation written by pupils

The group, who are mostly under 18, ranging from 13-26, created the Teach the Future campaign three months ago because they were unhappy about the ...

First of our Have Your Say Winners 2014

This great film from Natalia, Nancy, Charlotte and Natalie, aged 12 - 13 looks at how climate change is affecting us, why it is happening and what ...

Fourth day of climate protests in London

Their protests are part of a worldwide campaign and there are 80 demonstrations planned in over 30 countries in the next few days. As with the s...

Fracking in Lancashire temporarily halted after seismic event

This kind of tremor could not be felt on the surface, but is very close to the Oil and Gas Authority's limit for a 'red alert', whereby a company i...

Fracking permitted in England for first time since 2011

Energy firm Cuadrilla can begin exploratory drilling as soon as tomorrow at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire after an application for an int...

France bans short haul flights

The EU ruling on the ban stipulated that it could only be operated on routes which offered several direct rail connections each day.  If rail servi...

Fuels and Energy Resources

A suite of 3 lessons for Key Stage 3 with accompanying PowerPoint presentation to compare the pros and cons of different types of renewable and non...

Get to zero emissions by 2050, says new report

The CCC proposes a number of actions to reach net zero by 2050.  For example, by eating less meat, by significantly increasing the use of renewable...

Getting to zero emissions is ‘affordable’ for UK

For an annual net cost of around £10 billion from now until 2050, report says that the transition to net zero can be achieved.  This figure does no...

Global Warming

Global warming is the increase of average world temperatures as a result of what is known as the greenhouse effect. 

Global carbon dioxide levels hit new monthly high

Newly published data from NOAA has shown that in March 2015, the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) across the globe stood at 400.83 parts p...

Global carbon emissions stable for last three years

Annual output of CO2 rose by 0.7% in 2014, was flat in 2015 and is expected to grow by just 0.2% in 2016.  It is still too early to say whether CO2...

Global sea levels rising faster

Most of the losses are happening in western Antarctica, where warmer ocean waters are beginning to undermine glaciers that end at the sea. Globa...

Good news and bad news

IEA executive Director Fatih Birol said in an interview, "I feel more optimistic than I felt two years ago."  He added, "Clean energy investments i...

Good news for the planet!

In the United Kingdom from April to September 2016, some 6,696 gigawatt hours (5.4% of the UK's electricity over the period) were generated by sola...

Great news for the Amazon from COP27

Lula said that Brazil did not need to clear another hectare of rainforest to be a major agricultural producer and that his government would crack d...

Green light for new nuclear plant in UK

Hinkley C is a big part of the UK government's plans to create a low carbon energy future.  In fact, if built, it will eventually provide around 7%...

Greenhouse gases at new high

Against the backdrop of a climate emergency, the gap between targets set by governments for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the real sit...

Greenhouse gases at new record level

Average global CO2 levels in 2017 were 405.5 parts per million - almost 50% higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution.  WMO Secretary ...

Greenland ice sheet melts at record rate

As a result of warm air being kept over Greenland by blocking weather systems for longer than normal in 2019, over 95% of the ice sheet underwent m...

Have Your Say winners visit Brussels

The winners met with MEPs at the European Parliament and were able to both deliver their presentations on their chosen topics to some of Europe's k...

Heatwaves

Produced in partnership with the Royal Meteorological Society, this pack of four lessons aims to develop young people's understanding of heatwaves,...

High profile climate change clash in Davos

He said, “This is not a time for pessimism. This is a time for optimism.  Fear and doubt is not a good thought process because this is a time for t...

Historic new treaty to protect world's oceans

The treaty sets out to protect 30% of the wold's oceans by 2030, a massive increase on the 1.2% that are currently protected.  Almost two thirds of...

Home Learning Pack: All about weather

Find out about the weather with this Home Learning Pack!  It is full of great activities to help you learn and there are instructions for making lo...

Hot Areas: The Sahara

This suite of lesson plans explores the Sahara - the largest hot desert on Earth.  It also looks at the spread of the Sahara into the Sahel and the...

How are disabled people disproportionately affected by climate change?

Climate change is an ever-escalating global crisis that affects every environment, economy and society on a significant level. Since 1880 the avera...

International concern at fires burning in the Amazon

Wildfires do often occur naturally in the rainforest during the dry season, but they are also started deliberately to clear land in readiness for c...

Introducing Better Planet Schools

Better Planet Schools is an online environmental education programme, created by the Young People's Trust for the Environment to engage children an...

June 2017 was third hottest June ever recorded

The US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa)'s figures suggest that average temperatures on the surface of both land and sea...

Last four years are the hottest on record

Global average temperatures for the first 10 months of 2018 were 0.98C higher than those from 1850 to 1900, according to five separate global datas...

Less Arctic Ice Than Ever

So it looks like our climate is changing and things are getting warmer. But three years of data proves nothing. There are blips and variations in w...

List of Talks

The school talks service is available in person for schools within a 30-mile radius of our office in Yeovil OR on Zoom, Teams etc. for schools anyw...

Listen to the new YPTE Podcast

For Episode 1, YPTE President Cel Spellman talked about his love for the planet, his biggest hopes for the future and why he thinks young people ha...

Living things and their habitats: Year 4

This suite of lesson plans includes a wide range of suggested activities and printable resources.  It is backed by a Powerpoint presentation, which...

MPs show support for student-written education bill

Teach the Future, a campaign made up of young people aged 13 to 26 released their draft of the Climate Emergency Education Act.  The campaign is jo...

Make climate change a greater priority!

In his inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Mr Johnson said that Britain was  “leading the world in the battery technology that will help cut CO2 an...

Making sure Year 9 students have awareness of climate change

Amy, who is a Young Trustee of YPTE, interviews Miles Golland, the Head of Geography at her old school about the school's approach to environmental...

Many climate impacts now “irreversible” says UN report

The report emphasises that the 2020s need to be a decade of action.  Dr Helen Adams of King’s College, London, who is a lead author of the report s...

Melting Glaciers and Rising Seas: Climate Change's Impact on the Himalayas

Climate change is a pressing issue that affects the entire planet, and its impacts are particularly severe in glaciated regions, such as the Himala...

Met Office data shows 2019 was a record-breaking year in the UK

On 25 July in Cambridge, the UK's hottest ever temperature - 38.7C (101F) - was recorded.  The previous record, 38.5C was set in Faversham, Kent in...

Millions take part in global climate strikes

In the UK, children will be walking out of classes to join the protests and hundreds of thousands of workers will be joining them.  Climate strikes...

More confirmation of climate change risks

Research pubished in Environmental Research Letters suggests that we are now 13 times more likely to experience a heat wave in England as a result ...

Most fossil fuel needs to stay in the ground to keep temperature increases below 1.5C

This bleak assessment means that far fewer fossil fuels will be able to be extracted than had previously been estimated.  However, the report’s aut...

New 10-point plan for the UK's environment unveiled

The plan contains a mixture of new and previously-announced initiatives.  Some of the proposals have been welcomed more warmly than others, both by...

New US government report warns on climate change impacts

According to the report, climate change is already causing flooding on the east coast, coastal erosion in Alaska and soil loss in the midwest.  Mea...

New halt to fracking in England

No future fracking projects will be allowed by the government until compelling new evidence is provided that fracking could be safe.   Preston N...

New law this summer to extend life of appliances

‘Premature obsolescence’, where manufacturers build short lifespans into their products so that consumers need to buy replacements sooner should be...

New lesson plans on climate change out now

What is climate change? What impacts is climate change having around the world? How are humans causing climate change? What can we all do ...

New onshore wind projects in the UK soon...

A new auction scheme announced yesterday (2 March 2020) will enable onshore wind energy schemes to compete for subsidies alongside solar and floati...

New plan to bring forward UK's ban on fossil fuel vehicles

Fears have been raised about whether the National Grid, which manages the nation's electricity supplies, would cope with a massive increase in elec...

New report on future energy use released

The National Grid has been looking at the future of the UK's energy needs. It has concluded that the number of plug-in cars and vans could reach 9 ...

New research to discover whether Greenland is melting more quickly

Greenland is an unlikely name for a country which lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, which appears much more white than green!  It's the ...

New videos now available

The two new short films, made by YPTE are on 'How electricity is made' and 'Renewable energy'.  Please take a look!

No relaxation of fracking regulations

A spokesman said on behalf of the government, “We set these regulations in consultation with industry and we have no plans to review them." Acco...

Nuclear fusion takes big step forward

So what is nuclear fusion? Fusion works by forcing atomic nuclei together.  This is a process that happens in the core of our Sun, where enormous ...

Oceans now hotter than ever

Oceans have an essential role in regulating the planet's climate.  They absorb heat, produce around half of the world's oxygen and have a key role ...

Offshore wind farms

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has published its recommendations to the UK government regarding the UK’s fifth carbon budget, which is due t...

Our winners' 2,000 Words: now available for you to read!

The idea for the competition came from Jemma and Amy, two of YPTE's Young Trustees.  They were certain that the competition would appeal to a lot o...

Outcomes of COP28

Many countries and environmental groups remain concerned that the more definite "phase out" of fossil fuels - asked for by over 130 countries -  wa...

Over 60 countries promise measures for climate and wildlife in post-Covid recovery plans

In the 'Leaders' Pledge for Nature', launched virtually in New York today, they have committed to a 10-point plan, which includes measures such as ...

Paris climate deal comes into force

Delegates from almost 200 countries will be meeting in Marrakech, Morocco next week to consider their next steps.  A UN review of the pledges to cu...

Planned fossil fuel production still too high

Looking at the government plans fo ten fossil fuel-producing countries, the Production Gap Report has exposed a discrepancy between governments' pl...

Play YPTE's first online game now!

In this game, you need to help Peter cross the ice in the hunt for food! There's a slight problem. Although real polar bears can swim a long way - ...

Polar Bear

The polar bear is the world's largest land carnivore and one of the largest of the bear family.

Pope urges action on climate change

He expresses his concern that in the eight years since his last message on the climate crisis, 'our responses have not been adequate, while the wor...

Possibility of Paris agreement breach within five years

Although making clear that there was not a high likelihood of the 1.5C increase before 2023, the very fact that it was even a possibility was a cau...

Possible highest ever temperature recorded on Earth

There is an ongoing heatwave on America's west coast and a high of 54.4C (130F) was recorded at 3:41pm on 16 August in Furnace Creek, Death Valley....

President Trump changes US approach to climate change

The Obama administration's Clean Power Plan (CPP) set limits on the amount of CO2 that coal-powered power plants could emit.  Under President Trump...

Rainforests

This set of lesson plans looks at rainforests, with particular focus on the Amazon.  Lesson plans are brought to life by the stunning images in the...

Record high temperature in Antarctica

Meanwhile, Argentinian scientists based at Esperanza on the continental Antarctic peninsula recorded a reading of 18.3C on 6 February - the highest...

Record levels of greenhouse gases recorded, despite 2020 global lockdowns

Emissions arising from transport and other activities are thought to have been reduced by up to 7.5% as a result of lockdowns, but the WMO describe...

Reduce livestock to combat climate change, says report

Other recommendations include protection for peatland and measures to ensure that no food waste goes to landfill by 2025. From a climate change ...

Report predicts more extreme weather for Europe

The report, 'Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2016' states that changes to climate that have already been observed are having im...

Rudi and Harry's Eco Home

Rudi (age 8) and Harry (age 10) learned about eco homes as part of their work with 'Explorium Lights On', with a presentation on the topic from YPT...

SOS UK Student Sustainability Summit 2023

Last week I was able to attend the SOS-UK 2023 summit in Lincoln with Cambridge Climate Society. SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability)...

Science Cross-Curricular Pack

At YPTE, we believe that young people need accurate information about how human actions can impact our planet. By inspiring pupils to care for the ...

Sea ice not yet forming in Arctic

Scientists believe that this is further evidence of human-made climate change.  They predict that as the planet continues to warm, it's likely that...

Seasonal Changes (Key Stage 1)

A suite of four lessons on our seasons and how they differ from each other, with accompanying Powerpoint presentation filled with inspirational ima...

Solar Energy Activity Pack

A package of activities and short lessons on solar energy, produced by YPTE in partnership with Essex County Council for use in primary schools. Th...

Some good news, some bad news

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) now looks like 2016 will mark another milestone for climate change for being the first yea...

Some progress, but not enough at COP26

Education ministers from a series of countries put forward proposals to ensure that education about climate change was included in their school cur...

Study highlights young people's climate anxiety

Led by the University of Bath, with contributions from other universities in the UK, USA and Finland, the study  is entitled 'Young People's Voices...

Surge in demand for biomethane

There are now 98 biomethane plants in the UK, which produce methane gas using food leftovers and waste from farms, including manure and grass silag...

Survey shows half of young people want electric cars

The government’s commitment to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel powered cars by 2040 means that we motorists will at some point in the future ...

Sussex: The Weald

Thanks to support from the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, we have produced this set of classroom reference guides to the regions of Sussex, for...

Sustainable Development

A suite of four lessons on sustainable development, covering: What does sustainable development mean? Pollution Over-use of natural resou...

Sustainable Living

This suite of 5 lessons looks at human impacts on our planet, current attempts to be more sustainable and the changes we will need to make in order...

Tell us about what you’re doing to help the environment and have the chance to win a £30 Go Ape voucher!

So, if you’re aged between 5 and 17 and feel you’re doing something that helps the environment, please tell us about it.  Examples might include: ...

Temperature records broken in the UK and Europe

The mean temperature for the year was 10.03C, beating the previous record of 9.88C, which was set in 2014.  The fact that the UK's top ten warmest ...

Tesla makes big leap for electric vehicles

At close of trading, Tesla's value was up 7.3% to $48.7bn (£38bn), while Ford's was $45.3bn.  Tesla delivered 25,000 cars in the first quarter of 2...

The Greenhouse Effect

Here is a short video to explain the greenhouse effect.  Great for teachers to use in lessons!

The era of 'global boiling'

He went on to say "The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable.  Lea...

The heatwave continues...

The Met Office has issued an amber heat watch warning today, which applies from 9am today to 9am on Friday in the Midlands, south-eastern and easte...

The week’s climate news

He likened humanity to a 16 year-old, saying “We believe that someone else will clear up the mess we make, because that is what someone else has al...

Today is UK's hottest September day for over 100 years

Other parts of the country have seen considerably lower temperatures, with thunder storms affecting the southwest in particular in the morning. ...

Top Tips for a Green Christmas

Here are our ideas for some great ways of making your Christmas a greener one.

Transport

This suite of lessons and activities for Key Stage 2 looks at the following issues: What were the earliest types of transport? Why do so...

UK aims for 68% emissions cut by 2030

He urged other world leaders to follow his example at a virtual climate summit, which is being held on 12 December.  He said, "We have proven we ca...

UK fracking gets the green light

Shale gas is found deep in the layers of sedimentary rocks like, generally several kilometres underground.  There is an estimated 200 trillion cubi...

UK government bans sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040

Poor air quality is viewed by ministers as being the greatest environmental risk to public health, being responsible for up to 40,000 premature dea...

UK homes to be wind powered by 2030

Mr Johnson said, “We believe that in 10 years’ time offshore wind will be powering every home in the country, with our target rising from 30 gigawa...

UK set to see wetter winters

Alarmingly, the research suggests that there is a high risk of record-breaking rainfall in the coming decade, with a 34% chance of an extreme weath...

UK's first new coal mine in 30 years gets approval

At least 85% of the coal produced at the mine will be exported, because UK steelmakers have already rejected the coal, which has a high sulphur con...

UK's top ten hottest years all occurred after 2002

Summer rainfall is up 13% when compared to the last century and with global emissions of greenhouse gases still rising, the UK will continue to get...

UN climate report urges 'act now'

The report sets out the millions of lives and homes ruined by droughts and floods, the millions of people facing hunger, the increased deaths from ...

UN climate talks: no major breakthroughs in Madrid

During the talks, representatives of governments from over 190 countries were frequently reminded that the world is far off meeting targets set in ...

US begins withdrawal from Paris climate agreement

The process of withdrawal takes a year and will not be completed until a day after the 2020 US presidential election.  The news comes as France's P...

US pulls out of Paris agreement on climate change

The Paris agreement commits the US, together with 187 other countries to keep the rise in global temperatures to 'well below' 2C above pre-industri...

USA to rejoin Paris agreement

President Biden is also set to end oil drilling at two huge national monuments in Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears End and drilling in the...

United Nations says young people have important role in tackling the climate crisis

Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aged 16, was among a group of young cimate cmapaigners speaking at the start of the second week of the C...

United Nations urges big cuts in carbon emissions

Global emissions have increased by around 1.5% each year in the last decade.  To have any hope of limiting temperature increases to 1.5C by  2100, ...

Warmest May on record changes Americans’ views on climate change

Belief in evidence of climate change seems to depend on people’s political views.  90% of Democrats believe that there is real evidence for climate...

What did COP26 achieve?

Ending deforestation Over 100 nations, including Brazil (home to a large proportion of the Amazon rainforest) and Russia (with over 20% of the wor...

While we shiver, the Arctic's getting hotter

Whilst there won't be any sunlight at the North Pole until early March, a heatwave in the Artic is actually the cause of the extreme wintry weather...

World on track to lose two-thirds of wildlife by 2020, says new report

It goes on to suggest that 67% of wildlife could be wiped out by 2020 if current trends continue. The biggest impacts on wildlife have been caused...

World's largest wind farm to start producing energy

When finished, the Dogger Bank wind farm will be more than twice the size of the next largest offshore wind farm.  It will have cost £9Bn to comple...

World's leaders meet to tackle climate change

In Paris right now, the planet's best hope for achieving a framework for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is underway.   The UN's 21st Confere...

York Minster to fit solar panels

Visitors to the Minster will be able to see how much energy the panels have produced and the amount of carbon emissions they have prevented via a d...

Young people in school strikes to highlight climate change inaction

Their school strike has been inspired by 16 year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden, who began a solo protest about climate change outside her country'...

Young people show politicians the way on climate change

Striking and memorable slogans were painted on placards grasped by students across the world.  Wherever they were protesting, they were united in t...

Young people urge world leaders to adopt climate treaty

The Mock COP26 Treaty outlines 18 policies young people have developed over the course of two weeks through speeches and negotiations,  and covers ...

Zero carbon energy overtakes fossil fuels for UK electricity production

There has been a significant rise renewable energy, which in 2009 was producing only about 2% of our energy needs.  Now, renewables are producing 2...

‘Shocking’ lack of climate change planning from UK government

The Committee's report finds that the population is at real risk, because crisis preparations are being run ‘like Dad’s Army’ and funding has been ...