Climate change is always a contentious issue – how do we help slow or stop it? Who are the people responsible? What factors affect it the most?

A more rarely asked question is ‘is it really happening?’ For many this would seem like a silly question, with the wealth of information and research completed showing how it is happening. So-called climate sceptics are relatively few and far between, but like most groups of people who have opposing views to the masses, their voices are easily heard.

A recent study led by Prof Richard Muller has shown that there has been a rise in average global land temperature of approximately 1.5 degrees C over the past 250 years and about 0.9 in the last 50. This is just the abridged version of the figures, but as the study was meant to be aimed at sceptics of climate change, the results have not exactly helped their intended audience.

Not unsurprisingly, these figures have made sceptics turn their backs on the data and continue in their beliefs. At least the man responsible – Professor Muller – has turned on his long held stand point and now agrees with the idea that humans are responsible for the increase in global temperature. This may not seem too much of an issue, merely a scientist wanting better proof, right? Not good enough for many sceptics it would seem.

I find it hard to believe that there are still sceptics arguing their stand point, when nearly everyone who has even the faintest understanding of climate change accepts the responsibility of humans.

Of course, it is no-one’s place to stop people thinking how they want, without scepticism there can be no real progression and enforcement of theories. I do not necessarily want to know why people are sceptical, but the sheer fact that they are encourages others to dig deeper into the reasoning, which can help our understanding in the future.

20 years after the Rio Earth Summit, and shortly before this year’s Rio +20 meeting of leaders a report has shown that the worlds environment is getting worse. It has confirmed a huge 30% decline in wildlife across the globe since 1970.

The Living Planet Report has been compiled by the WWF and uses data from more than 9,000 animal populations across the globe. The diversity of animals and plants has been hit the hardest, affecting the basis of such resources as clean water.

Increasing population, urbanization, migration to cities, increased energy use, soaring carbon dioxide emissions and many other factors have all contributed to the squeeze on the planets resources.

The latest Living Planet report has estimated grim figures for the future. It says that global demand for resources has doubled since 1996 and it now takes 1.5 years to regenerate the renewable resources which are used in one year. The report predicts that by 2030 the current demand on resources will require the equivalent of two planets to supply.

It also states that many of the changes have accelerated over the past decade, despite numerous summits and meetings over this time designed to slow this change. For example, Carbon emissions have increased 40% in the past twenty years, with two thirds of it happening over the last ten.

Looking to the future, one of the major points is sustainable population growth. Although the global population hit 7 billion in 2011, the population growth rate has dropped, from 1.65% to 1.2% since 1992, which is a step in the right direction to decrease our impact on the planet.

Recent headlines about drought in the UK have been starkly contrasted with this week’s flood warnings and severe weather. Over the last 2 years, below average rainfall has continued, leading to a recent hosepipe ban.

This may seem ridiculous with flood warnings across the country and even tragic events, with a man drowning whilst fording a swollen river in Hampshire. Even with the wet April weather, there have been warnings that more will be needed for our reservoirs to last over the summer.

Last night (30^th April) the Met Office said that an average of 121.8mm of rain had fallen across the UK in the past 30 days, being the highest amount recorded since records began in 1910. For comparison, the average for April is just under 70mm. This seems even stranger after March, being the third warmest and fifth driest on record.

There are flood warnings across England, with the only area without them in the North West and the Met Office have forecast another wet week, giving little respite.

The floods are directly linked to the drought conditions that we have been suffering from recently. As soil dries out it becomes hard and compacts, making the rainwater unable to permeate it easily, making the rainwater simply run off. Whilst some water does get soaked up and makes it to reservoirs, more prolonged periods of lighter rain are needed to let the ground regain its moisture.

Polly Chancellor, national drought co-ordinator for the Environment Agency, said: “We’ve had a lot of rain this past week, which is a welcome boost for farmers and gardeners, and has delayed the need for water companies to apply for further drought permits.

“But with the dry soils, most of this rain is either soaked up or, worse still, runs off quickly, causing flooding, as we have seen in some areas this week.”

For the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the outlook is brighter, but with better weather, the problem of drought still remains. With rainfall during hotter periods of weather, more water gets evaporated compared to during the winter months: So for supplies to be restored there would need to be a great deal more than during winter.

It is impossible to tell if summer will be dry or a wash out, but as the past few months have shown, either way will have its own problems.