Why Zero Carbon

Carbon emissions are causing our climate to change. This will have a negative impact on all our lives and the lives of future generations.

Yes even in Harrogate!

Global Warming

Our planet supports a wide variety of life. Earth has a special climate which enables all life to exist. The planet has given humanity everything it needs to grow and to prosper for many thousands of years and we want future generations to enjoy continued development and prosperity. For this to be true we need to look after our global home.

Global warming is creating extreme weather patterns all over the planet, from rising temperatures which are making parts of the planet uninhabitable and displacing millions of people from their homes. For example California, the garden of America, experienced a five year drought (2012-17) exacerbated by climate change. California is the 5th largest supplier of food to the world, accounts for 50% of food supply in the US, generates $136 billion and employs 1.1 million people.

In the UK climate change is increasing our extreme rainfall, the effect of which was seen in the 2015 Boxing Day floods in York, Leeds, Calder Valley and Tadcaster. The estimated cost of the flooding to the Calder Valley alone is £170 million.

Who's going to look after our planet?

James Lovelock talks about his fears that we are losing our tenure on this plant and we need to understand more about how it works, if we are to address global warming

Zero Carbon Britain: Making it Happen

Current UK climate change targets do not offer a good enough chance of avoiding what is now considered extremely dangerous climate change. In contrast, the Zero Carbon Britain scenario demonstrates that we could rapidly reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2035, using only currently available technology.

We can do this whilst maintaining a modern standard of living, as well as:

Creating 1.5 million new jobs in the UK
Increasing our resilience to climate impacts we are already experiencing
Helping address other environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity
Fostering a society in which we are happier and healthier

Take a look a look at the full Zero Carbon: Britain Making it Happen report which provides the initial findings of a multi-disciplinary investigation into overcoming the barriers to a zero carbon future.

Climate Change Facts

A ZCH reference library containing a number of climate breakdown and environment books and DVDs has been created at St Mark’s Church in Harrogate and is available for browsing.

You might also find these books provide different points of view and useful background information.

See What Others Say

Climate change: Where we are in seven charts and what you can do to help

The UN has warned that the goal of limiting global warming to "well below 2C above pre-industrial levels" is in danger because major economies, including the US and the EU, are falling short of their pledges.

So how warm has the world got and what can we do about it?