Strengthening the ability of individuals, communities and nations to
adapt to climate change, move towards low-carbon societies, improve
understanding of climate science, and raise public awareness about
the Earth's changing climate.
KEY FACTS:
The globally averaged mixing ratios of
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and
nitrous oxide (N2O) reached new heights
in 2009. These values are greater than
those in pre-industrial times (before
1750) by 38 per cent, 158 per cent and
19 per cent, respectively.
In 2009, as other economic sectors
declined around the world, existing
renewable capacity continued to grow
at rates close to previous years, including
grid-connected solar PV (53 per cent),
wind power (32 per cent), solar hot
water/heating (21 per cent), geothermal
power (4 per cent), and hydropower
(3 per cent).
By early 2009, energy policy targets
and programmes existed in at least
73 countries, and at least 64 countries
had policies to promote renewable
power generation, including 45 countries
and 18 states, provinces, territories with
feed-in tariffs. The number of countries,
states, provinces with renewable
portfolio standards increased to 49.
Climate Change Factsheet
Climate Change Website