Climate change is caused by gases that limit the heat radiated into outer space by creating a blanket of greenhouse gases (the greenhouse effect) in the Earth's atmosphere. This trapped heat then increases the Earth's temperature. Water vapour has some part in the greenhouse effect; however, it's the increase in carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and halocarbons that has been the greatest cause of climate change. All of these four gases have increased over the past 300 years as a direct result of human industry and population growth.

Climate change in the city context

As major energy consumers of energy, cities occupy an important position in the climate change debate. They are centres of innovation, where action is most likely to happen. Cities also have great potential to make a difference; change in cities can have a significant effect on the global situation.

Our partners

British Council is collaborating with The Climate Group and openDemocracy in the creation of the overall ZeroCarbonCity campaign.

With The Climate Group, the NorthSouthEastWest Climate Change Exhibition was curated by commissioning ten Magnum photographers who captured images from ten diverse regions around the world that illustrate the impacts and solutions to climate change Please click here for information of NSEW in Hong Kong.

An online global debate around the politics of climate change was hosted by openDemocracy from April to June 2005 ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005. Click here to view an archive of discussions from around the world on technological solutions, global governance, justice, and the politics of global warming.

The global campaign is customised to correspond to the city context in Hong Kong with the generous support of the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, HSBC and Swiss Re.