(Eds.) Scientists estimate that since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has caused the Earth to warm by approximately 1°C. Find a vetted, verified project that you want to make a donation to: Discover ways to make the world a better place. Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. The frequency and strength of storms is increasing, leaving destruction in their wake. Source: BBC News, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was formed in 1988 to collect and assess evidence on climate change. Since then, it has produced a series of alarming climate models. Protecting the nature we all rely on for food, fresh water and livelihoods, © Conservation International/photo by Emmeline Johansen. Let us test the latest theories in aid for you. (2012). Is man-made climate change really happening? The current effects of global warming in the United States are widespread and varied. Published 8 October 2018. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century, humans have had unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale. Pendleton, L., Donato, D. C., Murray, B. C., Crooks, S., Jenkins, W. A., Sifleet, S., Craft, C., Fourqurean, J. W., Kauffman, J. Fact 2: Struggling U.S. counties will be hit hardest by climate change. Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate. The American pika, for example, is a small mammal that lives in cool mountainous areas in western North America—in fact, it can die when exposed to temperatures warmer than 78˚F.So as the mountain climate heats up, the pika climbs the slopes in search of cooler habitat. Sea levels are risin… There is a lot of buzz around climate change—let’s look at the facts to better understand one of the greatest challenges of our time. ​Tweet this fact », This is what it would take to make the changes humanity needs to adapt to a warming world. Be a better fundraiser, manager, and GlobalGiver. Source: UN News, Community-led nonprofits working to fight climate change are underfunded. Source: U.S. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), Human activity, especially greenhouse gas emissions, is considered the dominant cause of temperature increases. Climate change, the periodic modification of Earth’s climate caused by atmospheric changes and the atmosphere’s interactions with geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors. Five things we have learned from the IPCC report. 2 ​Tweet this fact », NASA data show that average global temperatures in 2019 were 1.8 degrees F (0.98 degrees C) warmer than the 20th century average. Sources: CitiGPS + The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, In 2018, there were 14 extreme-weather events that resulted in more than $1 billion in damages. Here Bloomberg Green follows key statistics around global warming to see where progress is and isn’t being made. Featured Banner Photo: Replanting Rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Published 8 … Willeit, M., Ganopolski, A., Calov, R., & Brovkin, V. (2019). B., Marbà, N., Megonigal, P., Pidgeon, E., Herr, D., Gordon, D., & Baldera, A. Fact 1: Most of the increase in global temperatures since 1950 has been caused by human activity. climate change and help make a difference:​, The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)​​​​​​​ in our atmosphere, as of May 2020, is the highest it has been in human history. That’s why GlobalGiving launched the Climate Action Fund, which will provide ongoing support for critical solutions led by the communities most affected by the climate crisis that threatens us all. Air pollution and climate change are closely related. Meet innovators in our Viewpoints series. Climate change: How 1.5C degrees of global warming could change the world. This loss, removes an important buffer from extreme weather for coastal communities and releases immense amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. TThe current global average temperature is 0.85ºC higher than it was in the late 19th century. The science is clear: Our climate is changing. since 2015. In fact, 17 of the 18 warmest years on record have all taken place since 2001. Source: BBC News. We’re already seeing the effects of climate change, but thankfully, the planet is equipped with a powerful tool for stabilizing the climate: nature itself. to halt climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was formed in 1988 to collect and assess evidence on climate change. Get the latest updates on our work delivered to your inbox. In the United States today, we have a warmer climate and fewer glaciers. These are the climate change facts you need to know in 2019 In the Maldives, preserving the natural coral reef is four times cheaper than building a sea wall for coastal protection, even after 10 years of maintenance costs. The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Climate change in China" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics. 9 ​Tweet this fact ». Unwrap a world of possibilities for your loved ones. So, when people talk about climate change today, they mean anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. Source: NASA, These broader climate changes include: rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic, and shifts in flower and plant blooming times. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, I. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Yet nature-based solutions receive only 3% Source: NASA, By 2060, the cost of inaction on climate change is predicted to reach a staggering $44 trillion, with the highest anticipated GDP losses in the Middle-East, Northern, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. GlobalGiving makes it easy and safe for you to give to local projects anywhere in the world. The greenhouse effect refers to the way the Earth’s atmosphere traps and absorbs solar energy. Knowing the facts about climate change can help you to engage in discussions around what is happening to our planet and what we need to do to stop global warming. - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Join the thousands who have stepped up to protect nature like mangroves, which trap carbon and safeguard coastal communities against sea-level rise and storms. The term climate change encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet. Fact 5. Credit: Left - Mellimage/Shutterstock.com, center - Montree Hanlue/Shutterstock.com. (2012). As well as driving climate change, the main cause of CO2 emissions – the extraction and burning of fossil fuels – is also a major source of air pollutants. Pan, Y., Birdsey, R. A., Fang, J., Houghton, R., Kauppi, P. E., Kurz, W. A., Phillips, O. L., Shvidenko, A., Lewis, S. L., Canadell, J. G., Ciais, P., Jackson, R. B., Pacala, S. W., McGuire, A. D., Piao, S., Rautiainen, A., Sitch, S., & Hayes, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C [October 2018]. Protecting nature today means a better planet for future generations. Source: UN News, The average number of people exposed to heatwaves has increased by approximately 125 million since the beginning of the century. D. (2011). (2018). Loosely defined, climate is the average weather at a distinct place that incorporates temperature, precipitation, and … Climate change includes both the global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases, and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Every US$ 1 invested in restoration generates, on average, 10x that amount in benefits. Climate Change: The Facts 2020 is the definitive guide to the latest international research and analysis on climate change science and policy. of all climate funding. Source: Learn Library. Restoration is critical and cost-effective. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. But climate change also presents an opportunity to change the way we live so we improve things for us and the planet. Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet heating up. 13, 14, 15 Tweet this fact », If we continue to lose mangroves at this rate, they may disappear within the next century. Source: BBC News, Paleoclimatology—or the study of changes in climate throughout Earth’s history—uses evidence found in tree rings, ocean sediment, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks to determine that current warming is occurring roughly 10 times faster than the post-ice age warming. 19 And the cost will only increase the longer we take Protecting Nature to Halt Climate Catastrophe. Climate change in the United States refers to historical changes in the climate of the United States, as well as the regional climactic, economic, and cultural responses to global warming.. While that might not sound like much, it means big things for people and wildlife around the globe. Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal. Tweet this fact ». C. D. Keeling, S. C. Piper, R. B. Bacastow, M. Wahlen, T. P. Whorf, M. Heimann, and H. A. Meijer. (IPCC) The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global … Correction to Supporting Information for Griscom et al.. Buchner, B., Clark, A., Falconer, A., Macquarie, R., Meattle, C., Wetherbee, C. (2019). Human-produced pollution is causing climate change that is dangerous now and will become much more dangerous in the future if we do not act. Fact 4. 10 facts about climate change. Jones, H. P., Hole, D. G., & Zavaleta, E. S. (2012). 8 ​Tweet this fact », Natural climate solutions such as restoring degraded forests could create as many as 39 jobs per million dollars spent — that's a job-creation rate more than six times higher than the oil and gas industry. ​Tweet this fact », Just 0.7% of the world’s forests are coastal mangroves 12, y​​​​​​et they store up to 10 times as much carbon per hectare as tropical forests. Today even the common man wants to be extremely aware of the climate change effects and contribute the best way he can to save himself and the earth at large. 10 Tweet this fact », Eleven percent of the world’s population is currently vulnerable to climate change impacts 11 such as droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather events and sea-level rise. Are C02 emissions causing more forest fires, hurricanes and other … Here is what you can learn all about climate change – from facts … The term global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet. Twenty experts in their field from across five countries have written original contributions on the key issues of scientific, political, and public debate about climate change. Join us and invest in local leaders tackling a global challenge with a donation to the Climate Action Fund tod‌ay. 3 In fact, the five warmest years in the 1880–2019 record have all occurred In 2012, the United States experienced its warmest year on record. Raise money for your favorite project—and have fun doing it! 1110 Vermont Ave NW, Ste 550, Washington, DC 20005, USA, U.S. Find exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need. (IPCC) The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth. Climate Change - The Facts After one of the hottest years on record, Sir David Attenborough looks at the science of climate change and potential solutions to … Fourqurean, J. W., Duarte, C. M., Kennedy, H., Marbà, N., Holmer, M., Mateo, M. A., … Serrano, O. (2016). 1. 6 ​Tweet this fact », Tropical forests are incredibly effective at storing carbon, providing at least a third of the mitigation action needed 7 to prevent the worst climate change scenarios. Source: BBC News, The greenhouse effect refers to the way the Earth’s atmosphere traps and absorbs solar energy. 4 ​Tweet this fact », Eleven percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans are due to deforestation 5 — comparable to the emissions from all of the passenger vehicles on the planet. In the last 130 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.85oC. We’re already seeing the effects of climate change, but thankfully, the planet is equipped with a powerful tool for stabilizing the climate: nature itself. The effects of climate change are everywhere. 16 ​Tweet this fact », 189 countries have ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement 17, agreeing to limit global warming and adapt to climate change, partly by protecting nature. Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time. Climate change is the long-term alteration in Earth’s climate and weather patterns. Puig, D., Olhoff, A., Bee, S., Dickson, B., & Alverson, K. For example, 20,000 years ago, much of the United States was covered in glaciers. Tweet this fact », Conserving ecosystems is ​often more cost-effective than human-made interventions. Since then, it has produced a series of alarming climate models. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp. Arctic and Antarctic ice is melting, leading to rising sea levels. Climate change is not limited to just study for scientist and researchers alone. The UK has declared a climate emergency and not enough is being done about it. Restoring mangroves is just one of the essential ways we can use nature in our urgent fight It may sound like a lot, but it’s less than 0.2% of global GDP. Each of the last 3 decades has been successively warmer than any preceding decade since 1850(1). We're proud to be recognized as a financially accountable and transparent organization. Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. Share these facts about The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions and an increase in the number, duration and intensity of tropical storms. Climate change: 11 facts you need to know We’re already seeing the effects of human-caused climate change — but nature can help. Support a high-impact project in a different part of the world every month. Giri, C., Ochieng, E., Tieszen, L. L., Zhu, Z., Singh, A., Loveland, T., … Duke, N. (2010). Under these models, most of the planet’s ice cover would melt by the end of the century and trigger a cascade of irreversible consequences, including flooding strong enough to engulf entire cities. Global climate change refers to the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. Climate change is real and man-made, and there is overwhelming scientific consensus that this is true. The facts you need to know about the Climate Emergency: The science of climate change is well established: Climate change is real and human activities are the main cause. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. Roughly 3.2 billion people are currently impacted by land degradation worldwide. to act ambitiously. When confronted with inaccurate information, the best way to respond is with facts — so keep these seven climate change facts in mind. This much faster warming corresponds with levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which have been increasing since the industrial revolution. Discover local solutions to global problems. Breaking news about climate change and other environmental issues, straight to your inbox. Climate change is one of the great challenges facing business and industry. while providing nonprofits with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. Is global warming a hoax? The most marginalized communities—historically shut out of decisions made about their futures—will bear the brunt of the damage. Average temperature is 0.85ºC higher than it was in the Earth ’ s atmosphere is directly linked to broader. Seven climate change 10 facts about climate climate change facts is one of the essential ways we can use nature in urgent. Support a high-impact project in a different part of the last 130 years, the Panel. 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