Climate change in the United Kingdom

rdf:langString Climate change in the United Kingdom

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rdf:langString Current/past Köppen climate classification map for Great Britain and Northern Ireland for 1980–2016

rdf:langString Predicted Köppen climate classification map for Great Britain and Northern Ireland for 2071–2100

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rdf:langString Koppen-Geiger Map GBR future.svg

rdf:langString Koppen-Geiger Map GBR present.svg

rdf:langString Climate change in the United Kingdom is impacting the country's environment and human population in many ways. The country's climate is becoming warmer, with drier summers and wetter winters. The frequency and intensity of storms, floods, droughts and heatwaves is increasing, and sea level rise is impacting coastal areas. The United Kingdom (UK) is also a contributor to climate change, having emitted more greenhouse gas from the country per person than the world average. Climate change is having economic impacts on the UK and presents risks to human health and ecosystems. The government has committed to reducing emissions by 50% of 1990 levels by 2025 and to net zero by 2050. In 2020, the UK set a target of 68% reduction in emissions by 2030 in its commitments in the Paris Agreement. The country will phase-out coal by 2024. Parliament passed Acts related to climate change in 2006 and 2008, the latter representing the first time a government legally mandated a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Climate Change Programme was established in 2000 and the Climate Change Committee provides policy advice towards mitigation targets. In 2019, Parliament declared a 'climate change emergency'. The UK has been prominent in international cooperation on climate change, including through UN conferences and during its European Union membership. Climate change has been discussed by British politicians since the late 20th century, but it has attracted greater political, public and media attention in the UK from the 2000s. Public opinion polls show concern amongst the majority of Britons. The British royal family have also prioritised the issue and various climate change activism initiatives have taken place in the UK.