Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today, as increasing amounts of carbon emissions in the atmosphere are contributing towards an unprecedented rise in average global temperature.

Increasing temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather.

The impact will be widespread. Flooding is likely to increase, droughts and desertification will spread, wildlife could be badly affected, and there is likely to be disruption to agriculture and food supplies. The number of refugees is likely to rise and millions of people could go hungry. The financial costs of flooding and insurance against bad weather are likely to rise substantially.

The effects will be felt both here in the UK and internationally, where there may be severe problems for people in regions that are particularly vulnerable to changing weather patterns.

So what are UK institutions and citizens doing to achieve climate security around the world?

What is the UK Government doing?

How is the UK Government adapting to the challenges posed by the threat of climate change?

Several departments are involved. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) runs the Climate Change Programme, the UK’s key strategy for tackling climate change.

Defra also published the Government's Climate Change Bill, which was introduced into Parliament in November 2007. It is expected to be passed during 2008.

The Office for Climate Change, set up by Defra, began work in September 2006. It aims to provide a shared resource across government for analysis and development of climate change policy and strategy.

As part of the Government's Act on CO2 campaign Defra produced a personal CO2 calculator, which lets people work out their carbon footprint using government-recognised data and calculations.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) works with other countries and international institutions to rapidly shift towards a lower carbon world. It also focuses on securing energy for the UK and tackling the challenges of a global economy.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) - formerly the Department of Trade and Industry - leads on energy and energy supply and published an Energy White Paper in May 2007. You can also view information about energy sources, renewables and sustainable technologies on its website.

A new generation of nuclear power stations was announced by the Secretary of State on 10 January 2008.

The Department for Transport (DfT) concentrates on reducing the impact of travel on the environment. It has launched a CO2 car ranking website, which encourages people to research the environmental impact of the type of car they're hoping to buy.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is overseeing a project on the effect of climate change on Africa.

Energy Saving Trust

The UK Government set up the Energy Saving Trust in 1993 to address the damaging effects of climate change. Its aim is to cut carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy.

Its member companies include BP, BG Group, Centrica, Johnson Matthey Catalysts, National Grid Transco, Northern Ireland Electricity, Powergen and Scottish and Southern Energy.

It works with households, consumers, drivers, small businesses and the public sector in the areas of energy efficiency, road transport and renewable energy. It encourages the use of cleaner fuels for transport and better insulation and heating efficiency for buildings and homes, and champions small-scale renewable energy, such as solar and windpower.

British Council

The British Council, which promotes UK education, culture and science overseas and is part-funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, has an environmental section on its website which is a guide to research, funding, policy and practice in the UK. It also runs ZeroCarbonCity, which highlights the environmental impact of city living and urban industry.

What is the UK Parliament doing?

There are 2 parliamentary committees involved in climate change: the Environmental Audit Committee and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which oversees Defra's work.

What are the UK devolved institutions doing?

All the devolved administrations and institutions work together to fight global warming.

The Scottish Executive works in close partnership with the UK Government, which is stillresponsible for key related policies such as taxation and contributingto EU climate change policy.

A Scottish climate change bill- separate from the UK bill - which will set mandatory targets foremissions reductions, is likely to be introduced in the Scottish Parliament towards the end of 2008.

The Welsh Assembly Government has already taken a number of steps across all policy areas. It published its Environment Strategy in May 2006, while a new document, 'One Wales: A Progressive Agenda for the Government of Wales', outlines the government's aims on climate change.

The Northern Ireland Department of the Environment takes a lead on climate change issues through its Climate Change Unit. It works closely with Defra in England, and the devolved Scottish and Welsh administrations.

What are UK industry, business, non-governmental organisations and charities doing?

Over the last few years many UK groups, organisations and companies have been campaigning, or at least taking a position, on climate change.

Confederation of British Industry

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) represents around 240,000 UK businesses that employ roughly a third of the private sector workforce.

The Climate Group

The Climate Group is based in the UK, the USA and Australia, but operates internationally. Its 41 members - including Arup, Barclays, BP, BT and HSBC - are committed to raising business and government awareness of the importance of climate security.

You can find a useful list of links to a variety of climate change organisations on its website.

Stop Climate Chaos

Stop Climate Chaos wants the UK government to beef up its policy on climate change.

The UK Rivers Network

The UK Rivers Network campaigns to protect rivers and inland waters across the UK. It hasalso put together a handy guide to the best climate change websites.

What are UK Citizens doing?

UK citizens are doing a variety of things to reduce their carbonemissions ranging from using public transport rather than the car, to turning off the television rather than keeping it on standby.

Some of the things people do include:

• washing clothes at 30°C
• using energy saving light bulbs
• installing loft and other home insulation
• buying locally-produced food
• recycling paper, bottles, tins and newspapers
• installing solar panels

The Climate Group has recently started a campaign called 'We're in it together', which attempts to help shoppers reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

What is the UK doing internationally?

The UK also plays a leading role in tackling climate change around the world. The government is working through the European Union (EU) and as a member of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the G8, and through the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Governmental Panel on Climate Change.

Act on Copenhagen

This year is a landmark one for climate change. In Copenhagen in December, the world will come together at the United Nations conference to agree a new international agreement to tackle climate change. The current international agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, will expire in 2012. Copenhagen, in effect, will create its successor.

www.actoncopenhagen.gov.uk is the official UK government website that presents the authoritative HMG position on climate change negotiations in Copenhagen 2009.