What are the main things we need to know about climate change?

The main things we need to know about climate change are actually quite straightforward. We need to know that:

• Climate change is caused by an excess of greenhouse gasses trapping heat (solar radiation) in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.
• The climate change we are currently seeing is caused by humans.
• Climate change causes extreme weather (heatwaves, floods, fires, more intense storms and sea level rise).
• Climate change is impacting biodiversity. Many animals may become extinct due to climate change.
• We need to stop extracting and burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) to reduce the impacts of climate change
• Restoring natural vegetation will also help reduce climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, the key greenhouse gas.
• The science of climate change is settled. Over 99% of scientists agree it is anthropogenic (caused by humans).
• The world has already warmed 1.1°C since we started burning fossil fuels on a large scale (industrialisation.)
• We need to keep temperature rise from climate change to preferably no more than 1.5°C above preindustrial levels to stay within safer limits of global warming.
• As well as trying to prevent more climate change (mitigation) we will have to change the way we live to suit changes to our climate already underway (adaptation).
• It is not too late to stop the most dangerous impacts of climate change – but we need to act fast.
• To have a better chance of staying within 1.5°C of warming, we must cut greenhouse gasses in half by 2030 and achieve net zero (ie: a neutral amount of gases emitted and absorbed) by 2050.
• Everyone has a part to play: countries and their governments, businesses, communities, households and individuals.

We have linked the points above to other answers from the Curious Climate Schools experts so you can read more.