Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Please be respectful of copyright. You can make your space more energy efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring its adequately insulated. This number can vary based on a vehicle's fuel, fuel economy, and the number of miles driven per year. Plant-rich diets can help reduce chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. If every household in the United States replaced just one incandescent with an Energy Starlabeled LED, we would prevent seven billion pounds of carbon pollution per year. Artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) solutions are integral to tackling some of the challenges associated with carbon management. Can the Earth Be Saved? Everyone, from aid workers to community leaders, needs to be aware of the realities of climate change and its local effects if they are to avoid, or help treat, its medical consequences. 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed, 7 climate action highlights to remember before COP26, Climate Action Note - data you need to know, Act Now: the UN campaign for individual action, Science and tradition drive China-wide effort to restore landscapes, 2023: The year of implementation for climate, nature and pollution reduction, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Mobile Terms & Conditions Generally speaking, here are some examples of mitigation strategies we can use to slow or stop the human-caused global warming ( learn more ): Where possible, we can switch to renewable sources of energy (such as solar and wind energy) to power our homes and buildings, thus emitting far less heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. This website uses cookies to enhance your experience and analyze performance and traffic on our website. We rely on generous donations to carry out our projects all around the world. The initiative has the potential to create 10 million green jobs by 2030, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. You can also claim federal tax credits for many energy efficiency home improvements. And producing meat creates vastly more carbon dioxide than plants such as vegetables, grains and legumes. Before you buy a new set of wheels, compare fuel-economy performance here. The strategy of using nature as a defence against climate impacts is called called ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in essence, look after nature and it will look after you. Project Seagrass in the United Kingdom has been working for a decade to reverse that trend. If you can, switch to a zero-carbon or renewable energy provider. Here are 10 simple ways you can help reduce your impact, and help in the fight against climate change. You can help protect public lands, stop offshore drilling, and more here. Try incorporating these small tweaks into your routine. Whats the World Economic Forum doing about climate change? According to UNEPsFood Waste Index Report 2021,people globally waste 1 billiontonnesof food each year, which accounts for around 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Mobilizing thousands of people to restore forests and achieve immediate climate action is possible Our Mother Earth is tired of seeing all this hypocrisy, comfort and ego of the leaders who can decide and put on the ground the solutions to have a healthy planet. While the effects of human activities on Earth's climate to date are irreversible on the timescale of humans alive today, every little bit of avoided future temperature increases results in less warming that would otherwise persist for essentially forever. The six sectors identified are Energy; Industry; Agriculture & Food; Forests & Land Use; Transport; and Buildings & Cities. It might seem intimidating but your voice deserves to be heard. Here are a dozen easy, effective ways each one of us can make a difference. COP26 ends with agreement but falls short on climate action, Niklas Hagelberg, UNEPs Climate Change Coordinator, INC Chair to prepare zero draft of international agreement on plastic pollution as Paris negotiations end, UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties(COP26), a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, 60 per cent of the worlds agricultural land is used for livestock grazing. When we cut down forests, the desert further expands due to the way in which trees retain moisture in the ground. Rainforests are crucial in the fight against climate change as they act as carbon sinks which soak up greenhouse gases. (Yep, its the cow toots!) In many countries, electric cars help reduce air pollution and cause significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel-powered vehicles. UNEP Terms of Use PrivacyReport Project Concern Report Scam Contact Us. We have proven that together, we can tackle monumental challenges, Mr. Guterres says. In what they see as a battle for their future, youths are taking action and demanding their elders do more to protect the planet. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The scale of the challenges facing our planet can seem daunting, but we can all do something. If humanity is to succeed in tackling the climate emergency, politicians must be part of the solution. Find out who your MP is and how you can contact them. Save the planet. Together, we can slow the dual crises of climate and biodiversity loss. Americans, on average, produce 21 tons of carbon a year, about four times the global average. And that doesnt include the shade that trees provide, which according to a study in the US, can reduce the air-conditioning costs of detached houses by 20-30 per cent. Youll throw out less trash, and help fight climate change at the same time. By supporting eco-friendly products which are less damaging to the environment, youre encouraging companies to source and produce their products in a sustainable way. If possible, see if you can switch to renewable sources such as wind or solar. Climate action is a task for all of us. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Seagrass provides food and shelter for many marine organisms. If the distances are too great, choose public transport, preferably electric options. So instead of buying new stuff, fix your appliances and clothes. That is, until the villagers fought back and reforested hundreds of hectares of mangroves. Avoid waste by only buying what you need. Ask your utility company if your home energy comes from oil, coal or gas. Be wary of attractions involving any unnatural interactions with animals. Go one step further and try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. We dont have to accept doom and gloom for the Earth. But we have to bring them back, he highlights. The climate emergency demands action from all of us. 2023 The Nature Conservancy We have expanded protections for wildlife and ecosystems. Mr. Bradby describes how significant gains have been made with the work of a broad range of groups, businesses and individuals contributing a 16-million-hectare habitat area now recognised as the Great Western Woodlands. The science is clear: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Ask an adult to help you talk to the owner about switching to a non-plastic option. Restoring and protecting nature is one of the greatest strategies for tackling climate change, but not just for the obvious reason that it sucks carbon out the air. Youll be helping small businesses and farms in your area and reducing fossil fuel emissions associated with transport and cold chain storage. This vision of the future is achievable, and we must join together and put all our effort to make this vision a reality. Without serious changes, 84% of the worlds fish stocks will be in peril in our lifetime. Georgina Goodwin / Shoot The Earth / WWF-UK, Find out who your MP is and how you can contact them. Less frequent flying can make a big difference, too. Did you mean to type So when we hear the ocean is in trouble from the effects of overfishing, climate change, and pollution it's easy to feel powerless. The report describes how, despite gains in the clean energy revolution, nations are falling far too short of reducing climate pollution quickly enough to avoid severe damage, cost, and upheaval. We also have global frameworks and agreements to guide progress, such as the . Climate change can still be tackled - but only if people are willing to embrace major shifts in the way we live, a report says. Reduce and reuse as much as possible. We know that climate change is happening - but there are plenty of things individuals can do to help mitigate it. Greenhouse gas emissions per person vary greatly among countries. Climate change is here. Innovation may save us, but it will not be pretty. We have found a unique way to do so: we are reviving the ancient Inca traditions of Ayni and Minka which stands for collaboration and community services in our local Quechua culture. Life will be differentand warmerin 2070. As a diver, Lisa Carne, the organizations founder, explains that besides massive coral bleaching events and hurricanes in the region, she saw some corals bouncing back. Every day can be Earth Day. A multi-billion dollar seafood company is working with conservationists to increase tuna transparencytwo of their leaders share why. Habitats are protected, managed, restored and reconnected throughout the climate gradient that wildlife will move along in the face of climate change, from semi-arid woodlands to tall wet forests. In the town of Kisakasaka in eastern Tanzania, seawater had been creeping into peoples farms and killed the crops. Hang up your freshly washed clothes to dry. 13 ways to save the Earth from climate change - National Geographic Kids What can we do to slow or stop global warming? - NOAA Climate.gov Could this simple plan save Africa's most mysterious cat? AIoT - integration into measurement and reporting. Its estimated that a third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted. Opt not to print. There are two ways to prevent them: increase the binding capacity of the soil, and reduce soil erosion from surface water runoff. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. If all human emissions of heat-trapping gases were to stop today, Earth's temperature would continue to rise for a few . When you sign up, youll become a member of NRDCs Activist Network. Personal action is, of course, no substitute for meaningful government policies. Climate Change Adapting to climate change: How chemistry will help us thrive Learn how chemists are developing new technologies to protect food and water supplies, save critical ecosystems, and safeguard cities from natural disasters in the face of climate change by Katherine Bourzac Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Sustainable Consumption and Production. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN's science advisory board, projects an increase in the . We have the world at our fingertips, so learn from influential people, keep up with the news and research organisations that are working to make our planet a better place. They are multifunctional ecosystems and are often referred as nursery habitats because they usually harbour young fish, smaller species of fish and invertebrates. New nursery and out-plant sites include Moho Caye (over 11,000 corals out-planted) and South Silk Caye (over 2,000 corals out-planted). This is a hopeful wake-up call, but only if we act with great urgency. Sign up to get the latest WWF news delivered straight to your inbox. How to Ditch the Biggest Fossil Fuel Offenders in Your Life, A Consumer Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act. Severe drought. The authors have put together a list of the best ways for people . For more information, please contact Jessica.troni@un.org, UNEP Terms of Use PrivacyReport Project Concern Report Scam Contact Us. Here are three ways we need to up-end business as usual and act boldly to advance conservation. Nevada and West Virginia, two states with very different identities, are finding themselves on the cutting edge of clean energy opportunity. Recycling what we can reduces the amount of new materials we are making, and upcycling is a creative way to make old items into something more valuable. The image above is from Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belize. Sea walls and drought-tolerant crops do have a place in adapting to climate change: if they're sensitive to ecosystems. Every product we buy has an environmental footprint and could end up in landfill. Because we have only one Mother Earth. It shows a restored coral reef previously victim of a bleaching event and in danger of death. Youll receive your first NRDC action alert and update email soon! We still must limit carbon pollution and aggressively move away from dirty fossil fuels toward cleaner power. And when youre ready to swap out your old machines, dont just put them on the curb: Recycling an old refrigerator through the EPAs Responsible Appliance Disposal Program can prevent an additional 10,000 pounds of carbon pollution because the global-warming pollutants in the refrigerants and foam would be properly captured rather than vented to the air. Speak up and get others to join in taking action. Our planet is at breaking point. But it's not too late to save it We're now in a race to bring our world back to life - and we know it's a race we can win. This ray is vanishing from our oceansand being made into jewelry, Why 4 dead California sea otters have scientists so alarmed. We need to ensure we hold our politicians accountable. Cities are significantly warmer than the surrounding countryside. Susan Callery, https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/resources/, Antarctic glacier loss is unstoppable, study says. Reduce should always be the number-one priority, says NRDC senior resource specialist Darby Hoover. If oceans were a country, they would be the seventh largest economy in the world. This triple crisis is threatening the well-being and survival of millions of people around the world. For example, look for ENERGY STAR certified products, such as appliances and electronics. Although once again the scientific community has made clear this week that we are not doing enough to limit global warming to the crucial 1.5C threshold, the findings of the latest Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change report, are not all doom, and gloom. Were analyzing satellite images and local yield potential to pinpoint where soy farming and cattle ranching can expand without destroying nature. Talk to your friends and family, and make sure your representatives are making good decisions, Haq says. All rights reserved. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. An orphaned elephant is comforted by a wildlife keeper at Kenyas Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa. Susan Callery Are you sure you want to print? Everyone in the UK over the age of 18 can vote for their MP. How India's tiger protection project saved trees and 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions, Finland is on track to meet some of the world's most ambitious carbon neutrality targets. Read the pessimistic argument and the rest of our stories. Save the planet. Earth Day: 5 ways we're working to heal our planet and combat climate It leaves you better equipped to have those conversations with your friends and family and the people you want to influence. Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination And while a steady stream of IPCC reports has painted a legitimately worrying picture of the current state of the planet, dont lose hope here's why: there are more innovative ideas for serious climate action than ever and around the world, people are working together on solutions to help repair the damage thats been done to our fragile home. #ActNow Speak Uphas sections on political pressure and corporate action -and Count Us Inalsohassome handy tipsfor how to do this. Attractions that involve you being able to pet, hold or feed animals for money are generally a no-go. The solutions exist, but time is running out to act. The effects of climate change are already threatening our health, our communities, our economy, our security, and our childrens future. The cypresses retain high levels of water in their leaves, even in sweltering heat, and the fallen leaves form a wet environment at the base of the trunk. Surface mining is a technique used when coal is less than 200 feet underground. Is climate change killing Australia's snow resorts? The main reason elected officials do anything difficult is because their constituents make them, Haq says. Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now Look for the ENERGY STAR certification label on energy-efficient products, including appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, electronics, and office equipment. Mining the Sun: How Nevada and West Virginia are Reclaiming Former Mine Lands with Solar Panels, Getting Food Right for a Sustainable Amazon. Get yourself clued up on the facts, stay up to date with recent news on the state of our natural world and work out what you can do. If you must drive, offer to carpool with others so that fewer cars are on the road. This website is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at, Site Editor: 0 . Holly Shaftel Once the mining is completed, what was once a forest is often converted into grasslands often composed of non-native species. Kill these monsters by unplugging phone and laptop chargers when not in use, and use power strips for lamps and TVs. Adaptation learning to live with, and adapt to, the climate change that has already been set in motion. Making sure your savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. The more people talk about the issue, the better! Heres why, Scientists confirm that Montreal Protocol has slowed the loss of Arctic sea ice. But not all carbon offset companies are alike. Cutting your food waste can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2e per year. Not everyone should be taking a multivitamin, A kitten-otter-bear? Theres no other way, if it doesnt start with people.. (Janice Chang for The Washington Post) 9 min. Pick an environmental issue you care about, decide on a specific request for change and then try to arrange a meeting with your local representative. Rising sea levels. Wolter Peeters. Switching from a mixed to a vegetarian diet can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kilograms of CO2e per year (or up to 900 kilograms for a vegan diet). Here's your handy guide to the most effective strategies. Appeal to local and world leaders to act now. Recycling food and other organic waste into compost provides a range of environmental benefits, including improving soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling nutrients, and mitigating the impact of droughts. It's one of the quickest and most effective ways to make a difference. Over 20,000 hectares of farmland has been purchased in the critical habitat gaps, with large swathes under restoration plantings and wildlife already returning. Our work is important because we are striving to prevent the extinction of the Caribbean acroporids corals which are listed as critically endangered which is one step away from extinct in the wild. Improving your homes energy efficiency, through better insulation for instance, or replacing your oil or gas furnace with an electric heat pump can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 900 kilograms of CO2e per year. Read on to learn how you can help! Native forests have been largely lost in the Andes over the last 500 years following the Spanish conquest. Fireflies are vanishingbut you can help protect them. The Earth is facing a triple planetary crisis: climate disruption, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. With the last Andean glaciers melting rapidly, water security is now becoming a major issue for local communities and even major South American cities, Constatino Aucca Chutas, co-founder of the NGO Accin Andina tells UN News. Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Poorer countries are more vulnerable to climate change heres how they can prepare, Why Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change. 3 Ways to Save the Planet | The Nature Conservancy Climate change and environment | UNICEF Switching your home from oil, gas or coal-powered energy to renewable sources of energy, such as wind or solar, can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2e per year. Tropical rainforests cover about 6% of the earth's surface, but are home to around 50% of all terrestrial diversity. Unless these areas are reconnected, many species could be lost, something Godwana Link is working to prevent. Climate Change Impacts on Energy | US EPA Advice by Michael J. Coren. That saves water and energy. Australia is one of the richest countries on the planet. A study across 52 sites found that natural habitats were 2-5 times more cost-effective than engineered structures when it came to lowering wave heights. What we do between now and 2030 will determine whether we slow warming to 1.5 degrees Celsiusthe level scientists agree will avoid the worst impacts of climate changewhile also conserving enough land and water to slow accelerated species loss. Thats called global warming, which causes climate change. A future in which people and nature thrive together. Wear a warm sweater instead of turning up the heat, and open your windows and turn on a fan instead of blasting the air conditioner. Reteti has successfully. The best way to protect us from climate change? Save our ecosystems We can still rescue this planet from climate change. Here's how A lake inside an Amazon rainforest within the city of Manaus, Brazil. INC Chair to prepare zero draft of international agreement on plastic pollution as Paris negotiations end, In Gambia, one of the largest development projects in the history of the country is currently centered around, restoring ecosystems to increase water supplies, reforested hundreds of hectares of mangroves, landslides have increased by a stunning 6,000%, launched a project to help communities adapt, Countries search for financing to counter biodiversity crisis, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. (Bonus: Itll save your parents money on energy bills!). Check out a sample Nature News email. Receive daily updates directly in your inbox -, Earth Day: 5 ways were working to heal our planet and combat climate change, Biodiversity and ecosystem protection highlighted on Mother Earth Day, Nature one of most effective ways of combatting climate change, Step up action and adapt to 'new climate reality', UN environment report urges, The right to a healthy environment: 6 things you need to know, 8 reasons not to give up hope - and take climate action. campaign. Terms of Use Healing the planet starts in your garage, in your kitchen, and at your dining room table. Responding to climate change will involve a two-tier approach: "Mitigation" - reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere Search your municipalitys sanitation department (or equivalent) webpage to learn exactly what you can place in the recycling bin, as counties and cities often differ in what they accept. For longer distances, consider taking a train or bus. For our economic and national security, and for the future of all life on earth, lawmakers must act without delay. Read more about the IPCC report here. Fragments of Hope is successfully re-seeding devastated reefs by planting genetically robust, diverse and resilient corals in southern Belize. A more sustainable path is possible. Please enter a valid email address (formatted as name@company.com). Image:UNSPLASH/Grant Durr. Science Editor: To achieve this, we need to end our. If youre wasting less food, youre likely cutting down on energy consumption, Haq says. Get creative and try to find alternate ways to travel. Each year one third of global food production is lost or wasted. Privacy Statement Indeed, heating and air-conditioning account for almost half of home energy use. Within two years the salt-poisoning of their crops ended and the wells returned to normal. How to Stop Global Warming, Solutions to Prevent Climate Change - NRDC Thats about as much as a car on a 5,000- mile road trip. In the United States of America, emissions in 2020 (the latest available data) were 14.6 tons of CO2 equivalent per person more than double the global average of 6.3 tons, and six times the 2.4 tons per person in India. 10 things you can do to help save our planet The scale of the challenges facing our planet can seem daunting, but we can all do something. When were at the table with leaders around the world, it gives us great strength to show how many people are with us. It aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and ocean. Lobby local politicians and businesses to support efforts to cut emissions and reduce carbon pollution. Climate change: 7 steps to save the world's most vulnerable | World If you can take a train instead, do that. If you must fly, consider purchasing carbon offsets to counterbalance the hefty carbon pollution associated with flying. Please enter a valid email address (formatted as name@company.com). If everyone gets the science, we can work together to find solutions. What can you do? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. around 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. One of the best things you can do is to keep yourself informed the more you know the better. Greta wasn't the first to demand climate action. From the way we travel, to the electricity we use, the food we eat, and the things we buy, we can make a difference. Air transport is a major source of climate pollution, Haq says. They are our best allies to adapt to climate change and will help secure water for our livelihoods in the next decades to come. WWFs most comprehensive study to date, the Living Planet Report 2022, shows global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970. And carpool whenever possible. The worlds roadways are clogged with vehicles, most of them burning diesel or gasoline. To reverse this incredible damage, since 2009, Green Forests Work has been restoring mined lands by planting nearly 4 million native trees across more than 6,000 acres. Americans, on average, produce 21 tons of carbon a year, about four times the global average. Learn about plastic and how to reduce your use. It has . Support real science-based conservation action thats essential for a more hopeful future. As the need to feed a billion more people increases, agricultural expansion could devastate habitats, release even more carbon into the atmosphere, and dry up rivers.
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