Climate change and the bio-diversity crisis are an unprecedented threat on a scale that has never been seen before in human history, and it is affecting everyone. Opinions and perceptions on this issue vary widely, from those who are deeply aware and fearful, to individuals who are concerned but optimistic about finding solutions, all the way to those in denial, detachment, or dismissal.
Causes of Climate Change
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (ppm) have been tracked for the past 800,000 years, based on EPICA (ice core) data. The peaks and valleys in carbon dioxide levels track the coming and going of ice ages (low levels of CO2) and warmer interglacial period (higher levels of CO2). Throughout these cycles, atmospheric carbon dioxide was never higher than 300 ppm.
Due to human industrial activities including burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation, transport and industry, deforestation, destruction of ecosystems and intensive agricultural practices, there has been a large increase in harmful gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and other 'greenhouse gases' released into the atmosphere. Before the industrial revolution, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were 278 parts per million (ppm) and currently, they are at 423 ppm as of June 2023.
Increased levels of greenhouse gases trap additional heat of the sun within the earth's atmosphere, causing rapid heating of the earth, beyond its natural parameters. The Earth is experiencing a rapid increase in temperature, surpassing any previous warming trends in recorded history. Since the 1980s, every decade is warmer than the one before.
Effects of Climate Change
Increase in global temperature is leading to dangerous heatwaves, drought and wildfires. Warming oceans cause polar ice sheets to melt and oceans to rise. Oceans become acidic, endangering marine life and coral reefs. Extreme weather and rapidly increasing temperatures mean that species on land and in the ocean are struggling to adapt. The world is losing species at a rate 1000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. As temperatures rise, more water evaporates which leads to extreme rainfall and flooding. Warming ocean temperatures lead to frequent and destructive storms. Climate change is affecting water availability and expanding deserts. Agricultural land is becoming less productive and food supplies are being affected. Changing weather patterns are expanding diseases and extreme weather events directly affect the health of millions of people.
Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities and has a far greater impact on those in the global south and those experiencing poverty and discrimination within the society. When we think, educate and act on climate change we need to bear this in mind.
We can all make a difference and reduce carbon emissions in the way that we live, buy, eat, travel and play. There are numerous avenues in which you can help people understand what it is all about, what is at stake and what action they can take. One effective way to increase our impact on climate change is to encourage others to act and spread the word.
Take Action
Climate Literacy Workshops
Increasing climate literacy helps people to understand and take action on climate change. You and your group could run climate conversations to your family, friends and community members. NESCAN Hub runs Climate Knowledge into Action sessions and we are happy to do one in your area.
Inverurie West Parish Church booked us in for a Climate Knowledge into Action session during their Climate Matters Festival. Participants were inspired to act after attending and a local Climate Matters group started up, providing an opportunity for climate aware individuals to gather and support each other. The Climate Matters group also run their own monthly climate café, featuring speakers on different topics and appealing to a wider group of people.
The original Climate Knowledge into Action workshop spurred members of the community to reach out and make partnerships and networks with other community groups including the local planning team, so that a joined-up approach can be taken towards a sustainable Inverurie.
You can get in touch at info@nescan.org to book a session now. Alternatively, you could learn how to be a facilitator yourself!
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Climate Knowledge into Action Facilitation Training
The Scottish Communities Climate Action Network's Climate Knowledge in Action' Facilitator Training will equip you with skills and knowledge to run SCCAN's accredited Carbon Literacy course in your group. This course is aimed at individuals who want to deliver the course in their group or community. During the training, you will learn to deliver the course and teach your community members all they need to know about climate change and what they can do about it.
Stalls
Taking knowledge to where people are really helps. You can have a stall at a local farmers' market, highland games, village fete to help spread the word and prompt action. Educate and provoke discussion in a fun way by using cards such as How Bad are your Bananas Game or the Aberdeen Climate Action's Carbon Sorting Card Game. It is always good to include a children's' activity so you have an opportunity to engage with those they are with. This can be as simple as a drawing activity.
Climate Café
One more way to get involved is by launching your very own Climate Café! Climate Cafés provide a communal space for individuals to gather, educate themselves on climate change, explore solutions to adapt or mitigate its effects, and identify actionable steps towards a sustainable future. You can learn how to Create your own Climate Café with examples of how different communities have taken this concept further.
Locally, Aberdeen Climate Action run a monthly hybrid climate café every first Tuesday of the month. These climate cafés aim to develop knowledge through showcasing local examples of what can be done to reduce carbon emissions, live more sustainably and prompt action. Why don't you attend an ACA Climate Café to experience it for yourself?
Film Screening
Showing impactful films can help to get the message across. Take One Action has a whole library of fantastic relevant films and you can learn how to create a Take One Action Film Club to have your own community screenings.
There are also lots of good free films based on local issues that you can show. One of which is NESCAN'S North East Communities: Our Green Journey which tells the stories of 17 different local community climate action projects to provide hope and inspiration for your own green journey.
Young people around the world experiencing the impacts of climate change are also taking the lead on climate action. The Ripple Effect is a film made by young people from the United Kingdom and South Africa on the ways - sometimes less obvious - in which climate change is affecting them where they live, right now.
Use Art
Art is a powerful medium for reaching out to people and gaining instinctive understanding. In the summer of 2023, Aberdeen Art Gallery exhibited a fun interactive art installation for all the family by local artists on the causes of climate change and the actions we can take.
You could ask artists in your community to work with you on an artistic expression that can make an impact in your community.
Glasgow-based educator and artist, Hussein Mitha, came to Huntly in March 2022 for a seven month residency focused on climate justice and education. This project considered education and challenges of education at the time of climate emergency with an aim to cultivate an ethos of inspiration, cooperation, connection and solidarity to rise to those challenges. As a result of this project, the Huntly Youth Climate Warriors was born. You can check out their manifesto. For more information, e-mail info@deveron-projects.com or message them on their Instagram.
There are lots of different ways that you can help spread knowledge and prompt action. If you would like to learn more about other projects in your area, use our community project map.
Useful Resources
Keep Scotland Beautiful Carbon Literacy Guide
This guide consists of four sections:
- A vision of what our communities will be like in low carbon future.
- A brief introduction to climate change.
- A overview of how our everyday actions contribute to climate change and what we can do to reduce our impact.
- A guide for developing community projects that enable and encourage people in our communities to reduce carbon emissions together.
Community Climate Adaptation Routemap
Regardless of the community you live in, there are various proactive steps you can take to build resilience and prepare for climate change and at the same time make your place healthier, safer and more comfortable to live in for humans and all creatures alike. This routemap is valuable for anyone who would like to:
- Understand and address climate change impacts within your community now and in the future
- Explore what actions you can take to build resilience and adapt while addressing other important issues for your community
- Invest in your community and protect against future costs and learn about what funding and support is available.
Climate Psychology Alliance
Climate Psychology Alliance explore psychological responses to climate crisis and offers support and useful resources to enhance resilience in facing the challenges posed by climate crisis.
There are various credible online resources that provide valuable information on climate change, covering the science, impacts, and solutions. Here are some of our recommendations for further insight:
Energy and Climate Change Intelligence Unit
