IT’S difficult to believe global warming is happening when we are shivering through yet another cold winter.

TV programmes such as channel 4’s The Year Britain Froze, examining the coldest temperatures ever faced by Britain since records began in 1850, certainly make it difficult to get the climate change message across.

The Huddersfield-based Energy Saving Trust has offered to shed some light on this.

Advice centre manager Andrew Cooper said: “There is no doubt we have experienced some freezing temperatures of late, however this does not dispute global warming but is actually a result of it.

“The earth’s increased warming creates the extreme weather conditions.”

Support for this comes from the Met Office’s recent announcement that 2010 was actually the second hottest on record – even though it was Britain’s coldest since 1986.

Andrew said: “We have to remember that Britain makes up a tiny percentage of the Earth, and temperatures elsewhere such as the oceans which dominate the Earth are becoming warmer.”

For information on how you can save energy and money while keeping warm contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012