WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
Climate change refers to a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns and average temperatures.
The science is clear. Climate change is real. Climate change is happening now. Climate change requires immediate and ambitious action to prevent the worst effects it can have on people and wildlife all over the world.
We know that the planet has warmed by an average of nearly 1°C in the past century. If we are to prevent the worst effects of climate change, there is global agreement that temperature rises need to be kept well below 2°C from the pre-industrial era, with an ambition to keep it below 1.5°C. Currently, however, assessments suggest that we are currently on course for temperature rises of up to as much as 4°C or higher.
We have recently seen a number of unwanted developments due to climate change and global warming:
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16 of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001, with 2016 being the warmest yet.
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The current levels of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are unprecedented in the last 800,000 years.
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And recently, scientists have declared a new geological time period: the Anthropocene, in which human activity is said to be the dominant influence on the environment, climate, and ecology of the earth.
As the planet continues to warm, climate patterns change. Extreme and unpredictable weather will become more common across the world as climate patterns change, with some places being hotter, some places being wetter, and some places being drier. These changes can have (and are already having) drastic impacts on all life on Earth.
什么是气候变化？
气候变化是指地球天气模式和平均气温的大规模、长期变化。
科学是清楚的。 气候变化是真实存在的。 气候变化正在发生。 气候变化需要立即采取雄心勃勃的行动，以防止其对世界各地的人类和野生动物造成最严重的影响。
我们知道，在过去的一个世纪里，地球平均变暖了近1°C。 如果我们要防止气候变化带来最严重的影响，全球一致认为，与前工业时代相比，气温上升需要远低于2°C，并希望将其保持在1.5°C以下。 然而，目前的评估表明，我们目前的气温可能会上升高达 4°C 或更高。
最近，由于气候变化和全球变暖，我们看到了一些不必要的发展：
有记录以来的 17 个最热年份中有 16 个发生在 2001 年之后，其中 2016 年是迄今为止最热的一年。
目前大气中温室气体的浓度水平是过去 80 万年来前所未有的。
最近，科学家们宣布了一个新的地质时期：人类世，据说人类活动在这一时期对地球的环境、气候和生态产生了主要影响。
随着地球持续变暖，气候模式发生变化。 随着气候模式的变化，极端和不可预测的天气将在世界各地变得更加普遍，一些地方更热，一些地方更潮湿，一些地方更干燥。 这些变化可能（并且已经）对地球上的所有生命产生巨大影响。
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change affects every corner of our planet – from the poles to the tropics, from the mountains to the oceans. Many of the world's biggest challenges, from poverty to wildlife extinction, are made more difficult by climate change.
We have the knowledge and the tools – we just need politicians to lead the way.
PLACES AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
From fragile mangrove swamps in India to the fast-decreasing icy wilderness of the Arctic to the vast oceans, the delicate balance of life in precious places all over the world is being put under stress.
气候变化
气候变化影响着地球的每一个角落——从两极到热带，从山脉到海洋。 气候变化使世界上许多最大的挑战变得更加困难，从贫困到野生动物灭绝。
我们拥有知识和工具——我们只需要政治家来带路。
受气候变化影响的地方
从印度脆弱的红树林沼泽到北极冰冻荒野的快速减少，再到广阔的海洋，世界各地珍贵地区的微妙生命平衡正面临压力。
THE GANGES
The sacred river Ganges is crucial for India, culturally, economically and environmentally.
WHY THE RIVER GANGES IS SO IMPORTANT
The Ganges river in India is more than 2,500km long and has the most populated river basin in the world.
Hundreds of millions of people and a huge range of wildlife rely on the river Ganges. But pollution, dams and removal of too much water (mostly for agriculture) have affected the flow and health of this vital river.
One of the river’s most at-risk animals is the Ganges river dolphin. There used to be tens of thousands of them, but now only around 1,200-1,800 are left in the river. Biggest threats to them include fishing (they’re targeted for their oily blubber), as well as toxic pollution, dams and barrages in the river.
THE AMAZON
The Amazon is at risk of reaching an irreversible tipping point. Between 1985 and 2021, the Amazon lost an area of rainforest and other native vegetation equivalent to three times the size of the UK. The pressures on the Amazon are intensifying. We need to act now. Without the Amazon, we lose the fight against climate change.
WHY IS THE AMAZON RAINFOREST IMPORTANT
South America’s Amazon contains nearly a third of all the tropical rainforests left on Earth. Despite covering only around 1% of the planet’s surface, the Amazon rainforest is home to 10% of all the wildlife species we know about – and probably a lot that we don’t know yet.
Our research shows that, on average, a 'new' species of animal or plant is being discovered in the Amazon every other day. However, tragically, because huge parts of the rainforest are being destroyed so fast, we may never know all the riches it holds.
The Amazon is of vital importance because people around the world, as well as locally, depend on the rainforest. Not just for food, water, wood and medicines, but to help stabilise the climate—150-200 billion tons of carbon is stored in the Amazon rainforest. The trees in the Amazon also release 20 billion tonnes of water into the atmosphere per day, playing a critical role in global and regional carbon and water cycles.
The Amazon is under siege like never before. Deforestation and fires remain dangerously high, and protected areas and Indigenous lands face increasing threats. It needs our help more than ever. We cannot tackle the climate crisis without the Amazon’s vital life-sustaining role.
恒河
神圣的恒河对印度的文化、经济和环境都至关重要。
为什么恒河如此重要
印度的恒河全长2500多公里，是世界上人口最多的河流流域。
数亿人口和大量野生动物依赖恒河。 但污染、水坝和过多的水去除（主要用于农业）已经影响了这条重要河流的流量和健康。
恒河豚是恒河中最危险的动物之一。 原来有数万只，现在河里只剩下1200-1800只左右。 对它们来说最大的威胁包括捕鱼（它们因其油腻的鲸脂而成为目标），以及有毒污染、河流中的水坝和拦河坝。
亚马逊
亚马逊正面临达到不可逆转的临界点的风险。 1985 年至 2021 年间，亚马逊地区失去的雨林和其他原生植被面积相当于英国面积的三倍。 亚马逊面临的压力正在加剧。 我们需要立即采取行动。 没有亚马逊，我们就无法应对气候变化。
为什么亚马逊雨林很重要
南美洲的亚马逊地区拥有地球上剩余热带雨林的近三分之一。 尽管亚马逊雨林仅覆盖地球表面的 1% 左右，但它却是我们所知道的所有野生动物物种的 10% 的家园，而且可能还有很多我们还不知道的物种。
我们的研究表明，平均每隔一天就会在亚马逊地区发现一种“新”动物或植物物种。 然而，可悲的是，由于雨林的大部分被破坏得如此之快，我们可能永远不知道它所蕴藏的所有财富。
亚马逊至关重要，因为世界各地以及当地人都依赖雨林。 亚马逊雨林中储存了 150-2000 亿吨碳，不仅用于提供食物、水、木材和药品，还有助于稳定气候。 亚马逊地区的树木每天还向大气中释放 200 亿吨水，在全球和区域碳和水循环中发挥着关键作用。
亚马逊正遭受前所未有的围困。 森林砍伐和火灾仍然严重，保护区和原住民土地面临着越来越大的威胁。 它比以往任何时候都更需要我们的帮助。 如果没有亚马逊在维持生命方面的重要作用，我们就无法应对气候危机。
UK RIVERS AND CHALK STREAMS
WHY UK RIVERS ARE SO IMPORTANT
Our rivers are arguably our most important natural features. Not only do they help make the British landscape so picturesque and vibrant, they’ve been crucial for the growth of our towns and cities, providing fresh water for drinking and farming, and for our business and transport over centuries.
Some of our most beautiful rivers are ‘chalk streams’. Their pure, clear, constant water from underground chalk aquifers and springs, flowing across flinty gravel beds, make them perfect sources of clean water – and ideal for lots of wild creatures to breed and thrive. We’re lucky because the majority of the world’s chalk streams are found in England.
But far too many of our waterways have been overused and undervalued. Drained almost dry in places, and polluted in others. Less than a fifth of England’s rivers are healthy, and climate change is putting more pressure on them. Our rivers need help.
英国河流和粉笔溪流
为什么英国河流如此重要
我们的河流可以说是我们最重要的自然特征。 它们不仅使英国风景如此美丽和充满活力，而且对我们城镇的发展至关重要，为饮用和农业提供淡水，并为我们几个世纪以来的商业和运输提供淡水。
我们一些最美丽的河流是“白垩溪流”。 它们纯净、清澈、恒定的水来自地下白垩含水层和泉水，流经坚硬的砾石床，使它们成为完美的清洁水源，也是许多野生动物繁殖和繁衍的理想场所。 我们很幸运，因为世界上大部分的粉笔溪都在英格兰发现。
但我们太多的水道被过度使用和低估。 有些地方几乎被排干，而另一些地方则受到污染。 英格兰只有不到五分之一的河流是健康的，气候变化给它们带来了更大的压力。 我们的河流需要帮助。
THE ARCTIC
The huge ice-covered ocean and frozen lands at the top of the world are at risk from climate change.
WHY THE ARCTIC IS SO IMPORTANT
The Arctic is crucial for lots of reasons. Not just because it’s home to the iconic polar bear, and four million people, but also because it helps keep our world’s climate in balance.
Arctic sea ice acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun’s rays back into space, helping keep the Earth at an even temperature.
But man-made climate change means the Arctic has warmed over the past few decades – nearly four times faster than the global average.
As the sea ice melts there’s less to reflect the rays, and more heat is absorbed by the ocean, magnifying the warming effect.
The Arctic also helps circulate the world's ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe.
We need your help to tackle climate change, and to safeguard the Arctic from its worst effects.
北极
巨大的冰雪覆盖的海洋和世界顶部的冰冻土地正面临气候变化的风险。
为什么北极如此重要
出于多种原因，北极至关重要。 不仅因为它是标志性北极熊和四百万人口的家园，还因为它有助于保持世界气候平衡。
北极海冰在地球顶部充当一个巨大的白色反射镜，将部分太阳光线反射回太空，帮助地球保持均匀的温度。
但人为造成的气候变化意味着北极在过去几十年里变暖，速度几乎是全球平均水平的四倍。
随着海冰融化，反射光线的量减少，海洋吸收的热量增加，从而放大了变暖效应。
北极还有助于世界洋流的循环，使冷水和暖水在全球范围内流动。
我们需要您的帮助来应对气候变化，并保护北极免受其最严重的影响。
THE ANTARCTIC
The massive frozen landmass around the South Pole is a challenging but fascinating place.
WHY THE ANTARCTIC IS SO IMPORTANT
The huge frozen landmass at the bottom of our planet is more than just spectacular icing on the globe. It could be vital for our survival too.
The Antarctic ice deflects some of the sun’s rays away from the Earth, keeping temperatures liveable.
Although it’s not predicted that the massive Antarctic ice sheets are likely to melt completely, even small-scale melting would raise global sea levels, and cause flooding around the world.
The ocean surrounding the continent also support masses of the world’s sealife – including 15 species of whale and dolphin, and five species of penguin. The nutrient-rich waters encourage blooms of tiny plankton, the basis of the ocean food chain.
Antarctica is one of the world's most important ‘natural laboratories’ – which is why so many scientists brave the cold to work there. As well as helping us understand global climate change now, the unique archive locked in Antarctica’s thick ice sheet tells us what our planet's climate has been like over almost a million years.
南极洲
南极周围巨大的冰冻陆地是一个充满挑战但又令人着迷的地方。
为什么南极如此重要
地球底部巨大的冰冻陆地不仅仅是地球上壮观的冰冻。 这对我们的生存也至关重要。
南极冰层使部分太阳光线偏转远离地球，保持适宜的温度。
尽管预计大规模的南极冰盖不会完全融化，但即使是小规模的融化也会导致全球海平面上升，并在世界各地引发洪水。
大陆周围的海洋还孕育着世界上大量的海洋生物，包括 15 种鲸鱼和海豚，以及 5 种企鹅。 营养丰富的水域促进了微小浮游生物的繁殖，而浮游生物是海洋食物链的基础。
南极洲是世界上最重要的“天然实验室”之一，这就是为什么那么多科学家冒着严寒到那里工作的原因。 除了帮助我们了解现在的全球气候变化之外，锁在南极洲厚厚冰盖中的独特档案还告诉我们近一百万年来地球的气候是什么样的。