We are already seeing the effects of climate change here in the UK. Winters are becoming milder, and rainfall patterns are shifting, making extreme weather, droughts and floods more common.

 Whilst some areas of the world see higher amounts of rain, others see the opposite, severe drought. This is because climate change is causing rain patterns to alter. The effects of climate change on nature are felt everywhere. Melting Arctic ice is leaving polar bears without the ice floes they need to hunt for seals and fish

Find out more about the effects of Climate Change on our Arctic Wildlife

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that "the effects of climate change are expected to be greatest in developing countries in terms of loss of life, and relative effects on investment and economy". Livelihoods built for generations on particular patterns of farming may quickly become impossible. If not addressed, climate change is likely to place an additional 80-120 million people at risk of hunger; 70 to 80 per cent of these will be in Africa¹. In Africa it is predicted that by 2050:

Simple things we can all do to save energy

Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent. You could save around £40 per year.

Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F.

Close your curtains at night to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.

If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.

Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).

 Dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!

Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too.

Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket - it only costs a few pounds and, with all the heat it traps in, it pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year. If every UK household that could fitted an adequate tank-jacket tomorrow, we'd save over £89 million of energy every year!

See our information on how to bcome eco friendly