Reality Check: Climate Change Is Already at Our Door

Wednesday, 1 June, 2022

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face today. Evidence is all around us, from floods to droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and landslides. While humans are the main contributor, we can be the driver of the solution too, because we have the power to change that trend. It is important for all of us to take action, because together we can make a difference.

What does that mean for businesses like yours? It’s important to know that consumers are paying attention to these issues, and they’re more interested than ever in supporting sustainable practices that can reduce the effects of climate change.

As food service providers, that gives us two good reasons to get involved. First, as part of the

human race, we care about our own health and that of the planet. And secondly, as business owners, we need to stay in sync with changing customer expectations in order to thrive. The good news is that while the food industry plays a large role in contributing to greenhouse gases, we have an equally large opportunity to help turn things around.

From understanding key terms to identifying areas for improvement and simple steps you can take to shrink your carbon footprint, there’s a lot we can do to secure a brighter future. There’s no time like the present to begin.

 

TEMPERATURE

The past decade was the hottest on record1, and earth’s average temperature has risen more than 1.2°C since the late 19th century2.

 

GREENHOUSE GASES

CO2 reached record levels in 2020. By 2100, levels of CO2 will double again—the highest in 55 million years1.

 

SEA LEVEL

Levels have risen 21–24cm since 1880 and set a new record high in 20203. By year 2100, global sea level is expected to increase between 0.5 and 1 metres4.

1.5°C of global warming = increased heat waves, longer warm seasons, and shorter cold seasons. 2°C could cause heat extremes that threaten agriculture and human health5. 

 

SEVERE WEATHER

70% of the 405 extreme weather events ever recorded worldwide were found to be made more severe by human-caused climate change6.

 

EXTINCTION

Over 25,000 species—almost a third of those known—are in danger of disappearing and climate change will be responsible for 8% of these7.

“Stabilizing the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reaching net zero CO2 emissions.”

— IPCC Report

 

 

Ready to learn more about sustainable practices in your business?

Get valuable information on how to reduce your environmental footprint with our magazine Planetpro. Download here.

 

 

 

  1. BBC, The State of the Climate in 2021
  2. NASA, 2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record
  3. NOAA, Climate Change: Global Sea Level, Dec 2021
  4. Grantham Institute, Sea Level Change, 2020
  5. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, 2020
  6. Carbon Brief, How climate change affects extreme weather around the world, 2021
  7. Iberdrola, Climate change is accelerating the sixth extinction  

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