What is climate change?

Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions.

The rapid climate change we are now experiencing in the UK and around the world is caused by people burning oil, gas and coal for heat and energy in homes, industry and transport.

Oil, gas and coal are known as 'fossil fuels' - carbon-rich materials formed from decomposed living organisms that died millions of years ago. When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases (mostly carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, trapping the Sun's heat and causing world temperatures to rise.

The world is now about 1.2ºC warmer than it was in the 19th Century and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 50%.

Visit the What is climate change? - Met Office for more information about climate change.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we will ever face in our county. The effects are already being felt by communities across West Sussex, with damaging impacts to people’s lives, local infrastructure and ecosystems.

The predicted impacts of climate change in West Sussex include more frequent and intense flooding, storms, drought, and episodes of extreme heat.

These impacts are expected to lead to:

• an increase in heat-related deaths (particularly amongst the elderly)
• damage to essential infrastructure
• reduced availability of water
• increased food costs
• disruption to supply chains and service provision
• sea level rises
• greater coastal erosion
• destruction of coastal habitats and wetlands
• wildfires.