The Earth is warming up, causing extreme weather: Climate change is the biggest threat to our future. 2006 was the hottest year on record and in 2007 in Yorkshire we saw some of our worst ever storms resulting in the floods.

The main cause is greenhouse gases such as CO2, produced by burning fossil fuels in manufacture, transport and heating, which are trapping too much of the sun’s heat. The Stern Report in 2006 said that emissions of these gases need to be cut drastically, or the environment, the people and the economy will suffer. This is not just a problem for future generations; it is happening now, with the poorest people suffering most.

Climate change is a great opportunity to use energy-efficient greener technologies to create a future based on a more stable economy with a higher quality of life. Even big businesses now realise that “going green” attracts more customers.