What you need to know

Climate change is the term used to describe changes to the planet's long-term weather patterns and average temperatures. 

What are carbon emissions?

Burning fossil fuels like gas, coal and oil produces energy. But they also release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous monoxide into the air. Once they're in the atmosphere, they form a blanket around the planet. This traps the heat from the sun and causes the earth to get hotter.

Find out more about the cause and impact of climate change (opens new window)

Carbon emissions are classed under three Scopes, depending on where the emissions come from:

• Scope 1 - this one means emissions that a company or organisation makes directly, like fuel burnt from running vehicles or gas used in heating or cooking
• Scope 2 - this one means emissions that are caused indirectly from energy bought and used, like electricity used to in lighting within a building
• Scope 3 - these are not produced by an organisation or company themselves, but indirectly as a consequence, like emissions produced when making, transporting and disposing of a light bulb in a building