Climate change

What is climate change?

Climate change describes a long-term shift in average weather conditions across the world, this could be a change in temperature or the shift in the amount of rain, snow or wind an area gets. Currently, the Earth’s surface is warming and there is an increased frequency of extreme weather events. Unfortunately, higher temperatures mean sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting, floods and droughts are more common and there are changes to plants and animals routines which are flowering or giving birth at different times.

What can we do to help?

Many of our everyday activities release greenhouse gases, such as heating our homes and driving a car. These gases get trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, and warm up the planet.

The good news is we can all do our bit to fight climate change.

Things you could do:

• Reduce food waste by only buying what you need, using up leftovers and freezing extra food before it goes off.
• When you are shopping, choose items that have less packaging.
• Reuse items where possible rather than throwing them away e.g. buy a reusable cup rather than choosing a disposable cup or bottle each time you buy a drink.
• Instead of travelling by car to school, why not walk, ride your bike or scooter where possible.
• If you’re feeling chilly at home, put on a jumper, warm socks or find a blanket before you turn up your central heating.
• Encourage your family to recycle as much household waste as possible. In Surrey Heath our partners Joint Waste Solutions and Amey help people to recycle as much as possible from plastic to cardboard and metal, to food waste, old clothes, batteries and small electrical items. Find out more on our Kids Zone recycling webpage.
• Remind your family to take reusable shopping bags when you go to the shops, to reduce the use of single use plastic bags or make your own!

Find out what to do with specific items and learn more about recycling on the Joint Waste Solutions website.