Climate change refers to the change in climate as a result of human activities that cause a change in the atmosphere’s composition, in addition to natural climate variability. Human activities cause an increase in atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, mainly through burning of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases act like a blanket in the atmosphere, trapping heat on Earth and keeping our planet warm. However, the human-induced increase in greenhouse gases has enhanced the greenhouse effect and caused the climate system to warm – a phenomenon commonly called global warming.
In line with the global trend, apart from rising temperature, Hong Kong experiences more extreme weather events than before. The sea level is also rising in Victoria Harbour. Over the last hundred years, the number of hot nights (days with a minimum temperature of 28°C or above) and very hot days (days with a maximum temperature of 33°C or above) in Hong Kong has increased while the number of cold days (days with a minimum temperature of 12°C or below) has decreased.
