Why should the way we use energy in the future be any different from the way we use it today?
Well, today most of the energy that we use to light and heat our homes, run our cars and power our factories comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.
But some people are worried that if we don't stop using these soon we could cause the climate to change so much that we wouldn't be able to cope.
As Mike Hulme, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, points out,
'We are causing the world to overheat. We must learn to live with the risks this brings, but also radically change the way we generate and use energy.'
The Earth's climate varies naturally, but scientists are pretty sure that we are contributing to climate change by burning fossil fuels.
The changes will vary for different countries.
Here in the UK there'll be more coastal flooding as sea levels rise - up to 50 cm higher in the Southeast by 2050.
Sounds bad? Well spare a thought for the people of Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean. Their islands are only 2 metres above sea level.
With sea levels rising, drinking-water supplies are contaminated and some islands are already disappearing under the water.
Could you cope with swimming home every day?
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Fascinating fact
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Expanding deserts
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Flooding in UK
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Watch: Greenhouse effect
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