Facts about Global Environmental Changes

The science of climate change is complex, but everyone should know the basics: the Earth is heating up because gases produced from vehicles, power plants, deforestation, and other sources are building up in the atmosphere, acting like a thick blanket over our planet.

We can all reduce climate change by doing our part

The Facts About Climate Change

• FACT: Average global temperatures increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the 20th century.
• FACT: The United States, India & China are the three single largest polluters in the world.
  
• FACT: 15 percent of carbon emissions come from deforestation and land use change.
• FACT: The Golden Toad (Bufo periglenes) is thought to be the first species to go extinct because of climate change.
• FACT: Personal cars and 2 wheelers trucks in India emit 50% percent of its carbon emissions.
  
• FACT: Air conditioning and heating account for almost half of electricity use in the average American home.
• FACT: Climate change is linked to stronger hurricanes, increased droughts and increased coral deaths from bleaching.
• FACT: Climate change is linked to an increase in disease carrying pests that lead to the increased spread of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, lyme disease and West Nile virus.