Day After Tomorrow controversy

This summer's Hollywood blockbuster movie - The Day After Tomorrow - generated controversy by showing the Earth in the grip of a new ice age caused by climate change (also known as global warming).

But do we really need to worry?

We help you sort out the science from the science fiction.

Although the depiction of the science is exaggerated and at times misleading the scale of the threat and the underlying politics are all too true.

Tony Juniper, Director, Friends of the Earth

Is climate change happening?

Yes. Over the last century temperatures rose by 0.6^oC.

2003 saw a number of highly unusual weather events including:

Droughts in Southern Africa
Forest fires in Siberia
Flooding in South America

The idea that climate change is harmless and will just mean nicer weather is dangerously wrong.

Image from Day after tomorrow - tornados over Los Angeles

What else?

Temperatures are predicted to rise by between 1.4 and 5.8^oC during this century.

This might not seem very much but...

A warming of just 2 to 3^oC would put:

3 billion people at risk of water shortages
300 million extra exposed to malaria
100 million more at risk from coastal flooding

Image from Day after tomorrow - floods hit New York

Could it happen overnight?

The climate could change dramatically over 10-20 years. It would be extremely difficult for us and the natural world to adjust.

The film uses one possible scenario for abrupt climate change - changes to Atlantic Ocean currents creating a cooling effect on Northern Europe.

But it's very difficult to say how likely this scenario is as there simply isn't enough data.

Image from Day after tomorrow - a tornado hits Los Angeles

Can we stop climate change?

Only if we all - Governments, organisations and individuals - take real action to combat it.

Some, like the current US administration, still need a wake up call. Others are rising to the challenge.

Join them.

Press for change

Take the climate challenge
Pledge to make a change in your life and you'll be making a real difference.

Resource

For more information - see our fully referenced briefing:

Abrupt Climate Change
(PDF† - 173K) May 2004
A short guide on the possible effects of a rapid change in global climate.

Or explore the issues and see our other resource pages.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.