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Climate change is a real concern with real implications: left unchecked, we are putting ourselves and our planet at great risk. Gases produced from sources like vehicles and power plants build up like a thick blanket in our atmosphere, trapping heat and warming our planet. Already, global temperatures increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit during the last century. That may seem like a small number, but the rise in temperature is linked to stronger hurricanes, more drought and even extinction of plants and animals.

Americans contribute 22 percent of the world’s carbon emissions despite representing only 5 percent of the population. Regular travel, like business trips and vacations, add up: for each person traveling 5,000 miles by airplane, one ton of carbon is released into the atmosphere, and a 2,500-mile road trip in a medium-sized car will release another ton. But if we are part of the problem, we are also part of the solution.

That’s why The Nature Conservancy has created the Carbon Calculator. It allows you to measure your climate impact and offers ideas on how your entire family can reduce the size of your carbon footprint and make a big impact on the environment.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing.

The Conservancy is working to reduce the impacts of climate change in ways that protect plants and animals and benefit human welfare:

• Reducing emissions from deforestation – The Stern Review, a report by British economists, noted that deforestation contributes almost 25 percent of current global emissions of carbon dioxide. The Nature Conservancy is working to significantly reduce these emissions by catalyzing a global system of financial incentives that values carbon stored in standing tropical forests while contributing to sustainable development and the protection of ecosystems on which people depend.
• Helping natural areas adapt to the impacts of climate change – Millions of acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers and coastal areas that we’ve protected over the past 55 years are at risk. In response, the Conservancy is, for example, working to build resilient regional conservation networks across the globe that allow plants, animals and natural areas to survive.
• Supporting policies to reduce emissions – In the U.S., the Conservancy is working toward passing federal climate legislation. Internationally, The Nature Conservancy supports the development of a more comprehensive global agreement for emissions reductions that includes all major emitting countries and all major emissions sources. The Conservancy urges governments to incorporate nature-based strategies and funding to help people, plants and animals adapt to climate change.

Action Starts when People Talk.

In the midst of dire warnings about climate change, there are reasons for hope and things we can do as individuals. Here you can try out our Carbon Calculator, an interactive tool that lets you measure your household’s climate impact and offers tips and strategies for reducing your footprint. Start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues, and take a look at the Conversation Starters related to climate change for relevant and compelling facts. And, learn more about our work by visiting the Conservancy’s Climate Change Initiative.

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