BES Facebook pageClimate Change
Background
Like all natural processes, the Earth's climate changes over time. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that the observed increase in globally average temperature is very likely due to observed increases in the concentration of man-made greenhouse gas (known as 'anthropogenic' greenhouse gases).
Many ecological studies have observed changes to ecosystems that can be attributed to climate change.
Ecologists are also researching the role that ecosystems play as sources and sinks for greenhouse gases.
The UK Government considers climate change to be the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today.
The BES provides expert advice to Government on the ecological consequences of climate change, where appropriate.
BES Activities
- Adapting Conservation to a Changing Climate. Joint BES - Natural England Conference: January 2011.
- Projecting the Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity (and Ecosystem Services)
Joint BES- DEFRA workshop, with the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and the Woodland Trust: 26 June 2008 - Scottish Climate Change Bill
Consultation Response to Scottish Government: April 2008 - Adapting the UK to Climate Change
Response to call for information from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution: January 2008 - Draft Climate Change Bill
Consultation Response to Defra: June 2007 - BES Climate Change Policy Advisory Group
- Establishing an Evidence-Based Framework for Managing Biodiversity in a Period of Rapid Climate Change
British Ecological Society and the Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation Workshop: June 2005 - Climate Change: Ecological Impacts
Parliamentary Briefing, December 2004 - Climate Change: Look Forward (Oral Evidence with the Biosciences Federation)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: December 2004
