Our world is heating up dramatically

Although the seasonal temperature cycle typically peaks in July, August 2016 tied with July 2016 as the warmest month ever recorded. August 2016’s temperature was 0.16 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous warmest August (2014). Our world is heating up dramatically.

The animated chart above has been released by NASA to illustrate how last month’s temperature compares to previous years since accurate global records were first recorded in 1880.

In a few weeks, international climate change negotiators will meet in Morocco to ratify the Paris agreement, which seeks to restrict carbon dioxide emissions and thereby limit global temperature rises. Around 27 nations – including China and America – have so far backed the plan. However, Britain has yet to make a commitment. Without the formal support of 55 nations, the Paris accord cannot come into force.

The British government claims it supports the agreement, but to the world it looks like we are stalling. A formal announcement is long-overdue – not least as an acknowledgement that, as a nation, we recognise the urgency of the situation.

What is climate change?

Climate change is the change in weather patterns that last for an extended period of time. It is caused by a variety of different factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation, plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions. More recently, different human activities resulting in the greenhouse effect have been identified as a significant cause of climate change.

Over the past century human activity has resulted in a huge about of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. The main cause of this is the burning of fossil fuels, however there are other contributing factors such as deforestation and industrial processes, transportation and many more.

Britain’s most ethical insurance

The ETA has been voted the most ethical insurance company in Britain for the second year running by the Good Shopping Guide.

Beating household-name insurance companies such as John Lewis and the Co-op, the ETA earned an ethical company index score of 89.

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Twenty six years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, travel insurance and breakdown cover while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do. We became a carbon-neutral company in 2002, and continually seek further ways to reduce our ecological impact. We also help people offset the carbon emissions from their own lifestyles, and in doing so, fund vital projects to reduce environmental impacts around the world.

In 1994 we founded a charity, the ETA trust, to campaign for a more sustainable, safe, and healthy transport future. One of our projects is called Back on a Bike – a road show that reaches out to adults of all ages, who rode many moons ago, but, for whatever reason, have not turned a pedal for years. It offers the chance to have a go on a well-fitting, high quality bike in a supervised, but relaxed, off-road environment.