Climate change is a subject that attracts fierce debate. The problem is complex and the planet's climate has always changed. However, there is now general scientific agreement that this is happening at a faster rate - almost exclusively due to mankind's exploitation of the planet's resources.

• the main cause of this man-made climate change is the increasing rate at which carbon dioxide (CO2) is being released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most significant of the six 'greenhouse gases' which contribute to global warming
• globally, seven of the ten warmest years on record were in the 1990s
• global snow cover has decreased by 10% since the 1960s
• use of the Thames Barrier, which protects London against flooding, has increased from once every two years in the 1980s to an average of six times a year over the past five years
• weather-related damage to communities and businesses has increased ten-fold over the last 40 years

As homeowners, we use approximately one third of the UK's total energy requirements and contribute to about a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions through heating, lighting, cooking etc. However, if we all do a little bit to reduce our home's emissions, together we are able to make a big difference.

Find out more information about climate change.