Global warning: our climate change challenge

Can this family rise to the climate challenge? Find out on Breakfast

As far as the world's climate is concerned we could all be heading for disaster.

Within the next few decades, a gradual increase in average temperatures around the world could lead to environmental catastrophe, as ice caps melt and sea levels rise.

For the past three days we've had a series of special reports Breakfast.

Our reporter Julia Botfield has spent three days in Sheffield with one family who have accepted our challenge to make a real difference to the pollution they produce.

You can e-mail your thoughts to the team here on Breakfast

Or you can join BBC News Online's discussion on Have Your Say

Wednesday July 28

Our energy expert Keith Tovey took a tour round the O'Reilly's home.

He loved their central heating boiler (it's a new condenser unit) but the lights in the O'Reillys' kitchen could be responsible for up to half a tonne a year of carbon dioxide emissions, because of the power they use.

We also debated whether the climate change menace has been over-hyped, with the former head of the Met Office, Sir John Houghton and Martin Livermore, from the International Policy Network.

Thursday July 29

Our energy expert revealed the results of his tests on the Reilly's household gadgets.

How much difference will it really make if we go green, unless America changes to it attitudes towards climate change? The cost of petrol in America is a joke compared to what we pay, not to mention Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on reducing CO2 emissions Michael Allen, Birmingham Read more comments from Breakfast viewers

There were a few surprises in store: running the shower, for instance, used up more hot water in 12 minutes than running a bath.

And, we found that keeping the TV in standby mode means it's eating up power: it needs 70% of its full power just to keep that little red light on.

Friday July 30

For our final day at the O'Reilly's, we looked at transport and asked why they own a gas guzzling 4X4, as well as a diesel van, when they have a bus stop right outside their home.

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Climate facts

During the last decade of the 20th Century, the temperature was the warmest in many years.

This is being compounded by a rise in sea levels, the melting of arctic ice and changing patterns of rainfall.

The UK Climate Impacts Programme says: "The climate change we expect in the next 30 to 40 years will be due to our past greenhouse gas emissions.

"Climate change later this century will be determined by the emissions we allow now."

It thinks we all have a part to play by adapting our lives and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

You can get advice on loft insulation grants and other forms of energy efficiency from your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre: find out the nearest in your area on 0800 512 012.

Is it time we all did our bit to prevent climate change? Use this form to e-mail the Breakfast team - or go to the Have Your Say icon on the right hand side of this story