Climate is hugely important for life and well-being on Earth.

From being able to enjoy nice weather and spending time outdoors to depending on it for crops and food, we all rely on the planet’s climate in a variety of ways. The Earth’s natural laws and physical processes regulate climate in a way that makes it habitable and supportive of human, animal and plant life. Thanks to this, we are able to stay healthy, enjoy beautiful landscapes and have wondrous neighbours of animals, plants, insects and other living organisms we can marvel at.

However, our climate is changing, and this is largely because of us. While the Earth’s climate has changed naturally over very long time periods, humans are causing the climate to change through our intensive use of polluting energy sources, deforestation and other interventions. We are already seeing the effects of climate change: temperatures are rising, glaciers melting and sea levels are rising. The changes include an increase in extreme weather events such as droughts, cyclones and flooding, putting populations at risk, damaging agriculture and people’s livelihoods, and threatening many plant and animal species with extinction. Our ecosystems are complex and interdependent – if one species disappears, many others could be affected. Climate change may cause all sorts of unexpected alterations and disruptions to this delicate balance.

The good news is that there is a lot that can be done to tackle climate change. From changing daily habits to spreading awareness, every one of us has the power to make a difference.

We hope this Challenge Badge will help you better understand why climate change matters and motivate you to take action and become positive drivers of change in your communities and within international arenas.

Climate Change and Food Security Challenge Badge Resources and Activity Materials