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What causes climate change?

A photo of Sir Crispin Tickell

Sir Crispin Tickell

Diplomat, NGO Chairman

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About the video: ‘What causes climate change?’

In recent decades climate scientists have noted an increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These cause global warming and are thought to have been generated by human activity. Sir Crispin talks about two of the most common gases, Carbon Dioxide and Methane. He describes what are known as ‘tipping points’ or thresholds in the chemistry of the environment. Once any one of these thresholds is passed weather patterns could change dramatically, as illustrated by the El Niño phenomenon.

Total views: 3,105

Filmed: London, UK on 9 March 2005

Credits: climate change, fossil fuels, greenhouse effect

Copyright © 2005 Big Picture TV

About Sir Crispin Tickell

Sir Crispin Tickell is a career diplomat whose posts include British Ambassador to Mexico (1981-83), Permanent Secretary of the Overseas Development Administration (1984-87) and British Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1987-90). He is also Chairman of the UK Government Panel on Sustainable Development, Chairman of the Climate Institute of Washington DC and is a senior visiting fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment.

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