Climate change has been stated by the Government's Chief Scientist, Sir David King, as being the most serious environmental threat faced by the planet. 

Please read our easy-to-understand Guide to Climate Change [PDF] (110k) for more information. 

Climate Change Strategy Annual report [PDF] (2.04mb) now available. 

Storms, heat waves, droughts and flooding will be seen more frequently in the UK as a result of increasing greenhouse gases. Coastal areas will experience severe flooding and loss of property. Alien species of plants and animals will invade and have an affect on farming and our food supplies.

What exactly is climate change?
Please visit Defra's climate change web pages (this page opens in a new window) for more information.

Guildford Borough Council and Climate Change
The council recognises that climate change is going to affect both its residents and business community. Producing a climate change strategy is one of the first steps to tackling climate change in our local area. Our strategy sets out the ways in which the effects of climate change can be addressed in Guildford by:

• Reducing the production of greenhouse gases
• Adapting to the effects that are happening now and in the future

View the Climate change strategy [PDF] (261k) and the Energy strategy [PDF] (283k).

To request a hard copy of these documents please contact our Climate Change Team.

Climate Change Team
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444540
Email: climatechange@guildford.gov.uk.

Our strategy supports the targets and proposals in the Government’s National Climate Change Programme of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by 2010.

Climate Change Stats

• Over the past 100 years global mean temperature has increased by 0.6 degrees Celsius and in Europe by about 1.2 degrees Celsius
• The 1990s was the warmest decade over the past 150 years 
• Temperatures are projected to increase further by 1.4 to 5.8 C by 2100
• The UK, with one per cent of the world's population, produces 2.3% of the world's C02

Climate Change Links

• South East Climate Change Partnership (this page opens in a new window) investigates, informs and advises on the threats and opportunities arising from the impacts of climate change in South East England. A representative from the council sits on this partnership to ensure relevant information is shared.
• UK Climate Impacts Programme (this page opens in a new window) provides scenarios to show how our climate might change.
• Saving water in the garden (this page opens in a new window) helpful tips from the Environment Agency.
• Saving energy (this page opens in a new window) in the home and so reducing your carbon emissions.
• Calculate your carbon footprint on Directgov (this page opens in a new window) and find out more about greener living (this page opens in a new window).